The Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project, a flagship infrastructure initiative in Karnataka aimed at addressing the drinking water needs of several drought-prone districts, has recently drawn sharp criticism in the state's Legislative Council. Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza spearheaded the condemnation, highlighting the project's severe delays and substantial cost overruns. Approved in July 2012 with an initial estimated cost of ₹8,323.50 crore, the project's expenditure has now reportedly surged to around ₹30,000 crore, yet not a single drop of water has reached its target beneficiaries in regions like Kolar and Chikkaballapur.
D'Souza criticized the government and officials for their perceived irresponsibility, questioning the lack of a clear completion deadline in the initial Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). He pointed out the poor coordination across planning, land acquisition, financing, and infrastructure development as key reasons for the project's failure to deliver intended benefits. In response, House Leader Yathindra Siddaramaiah, representing the Water Resources Minister, acknowledged the delays, attributing them to various statutory and administrative clearances, including forest, National Green Tribunal (NGT), National Highways, and Railway Department approvals. He assured the Council that the government aims to complete the project by the end of 2027, with efforts to deliver water to Tumakuru by November 2026, despite skepticism from the opposition regarding this timeline. The project continues to be a point of contention over its ecological impact, particularly in the Western Ghats, and its escalating financial burden on the state.
