Water Diversion from Hidkal Dam for Hubballi-Dharwad Industries

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By uday

A new initiative to divert water from the Ghataprabha reservoir at Raja Lakhamagouda dam – Hidkal Dam for industrial use in Hubballi and Dharwad has triggered widespread criticism and concern in drought-prone Belagavi. While intended to bolster industrial development, the project has drawn mixed reactions from local communities and leaders.

The Ghataprabha reservoir, with a storage capacity of 51 TMC, currently irrigates 308,326 hectares across Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. Despite its crucial role in agricultural sustainability, the government’s decision to prioritize industrial water supply over-irrigation and drinking water has raised red flags.

The controversy is further fueled by the unfinished Mahadayi project, which was meant to supply drinking water to Hubballi and Dharwad. Critics argue that the government’s focus on the new industrial water project neglects ongoing delays in critical initiatives like the Mahadayi and the Ghataprabha Left and Right Bank Canal projects, proposed in 1980. These projects remain incomplete, depriving vast swathes of Belagavi and Bagalkot agricultural land of much-needed irrigation water.

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Hidkal dam overflows

Adding to the woes, Belagavi city suffers from severe water scarcity, receiving drinking water only once every 7 days during summer. Locals have questioned the rationale behind allocating substantial resources to this industrial water project when basic drinking and irrigation needs remain unmet.

While officials claim there is no history of villages around the reservoir facing drinking water shortages during droughts, residents worry the diversion could exacerbate existing water stress. The lack of clarity over whether Belagavi’s elected representatives formally approved this decision has added to the mistrust.

The project involves transporting water from Hidkal village in Hukkeri taluk to Hubballi and Dharwad, a distance of 150 km. Activists and local leaders demand greater transparency about the project’s funding, planning, and long-term impact on Belagavi’s water security.

The ongoing delays in the Mahadayi project, which aims to deliver water to Dharwad via the Malaprabha reservoir, have also become a rallying point for critics. Many believe the government should prioritize completing these long-overdue projects before initiating new ones.

As discontent grows, the government faces mounting pressure to address these concerns and balance industrial growth with the needs of agriculture and drinking water in the region. Ensuring transparency and accountability in project execution will mitigate tensions and build trust among the affected communities.

Source: Vijay Karnataka

9 thoughts on “Water Diversion from Hidkal Dam for Hubballi-Dharwad Industries”

  1. Horrible… We residents are getting drinking water once a week or once in 4-5 days…and such decisions will raise the conduct of local leaders 😌 pathetic

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  2. Water Diversion from Hidkal Dam for Hubballi-Dharwad Industrie.
    Please one of the most decision on the part of Belgaum and Bagalkot districts. Belgaum people are getting drinking water after every 5 days and in Samar more than a week. Agriculture will be affected very badly due to project.

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  3. Utter shame on the elected representatives of belgaum , they hv no voice all mla,s and mp,s should immediately resign. The second capital is namesake no big industries hv come up here. , This is how the invisible powers be who hv taken the people for a ride. The elected representative from this why they r mum not speaking a word when it comes for d overall development of so called second capital belgaum. The people will never forget this humiliation meted to this region. Totally incompetent. We r 20 years backward compared to other districts. God only has to save.

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  4. Hubli dharwad Took Top Industries and IIT from Belgaum , and now they are going to take our Water also..
    Shame on our local politicians who just work for personal intrest..They are not concerned about Belgaumites welfare..Shame

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  5. First provide daily drinking water to Hubli and Dharwad then think of providing to industries no party is bothered to answer for the status of 24/7 drinking water project

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  6. Hubli Dharwad people may get water by Kali river .It’s get wastege. This project need 150 kms but Kali is near to Hubli Dharwad…

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  7. In summer Belgaum farmers are on road and hesitation no rain no water for animals, how come local residents of Belgaum allowing to take the Belgaum water to Hubli Dharwad, better to take the kali river it’s is very near ,

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  8. People of kittur, Savadatti, Bailhongal, Haliyal, Dandeli are flooding Dharwad and Hubli for education, medical treatment and business.. Dharwad city civil hospital is flooded by outside district people and locals are forced to go to Private hospital.. Uttarakhand kannada district people have protested using Kali river but they have flooded Hubli dharwad for education and business like hotel and restaurant.. Outside district people are only burdening needs of Dharwad district…

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