Rs. 595-crore Hale Unduwadi Drinking Water Project, the long-term solution forMysuru’s water needs, hit by a…

Mysuru: The Rs. 595-crore Hale Unduwadi Drinking Water Project, envisaged as a long-term solution to meet Mysuru’s drinking water needs, has hit a roadblock as the State Government is yet to acquire 14 acres of private land for key project components.

Launched in June 2021 and being implemented by Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB), the project aims to draw Cauvery water from KRS Dam and supply it to Mysuru city, Greater Mysuru areas, 300 villages in and around Mysuru, including those in Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency and 277 villages in Hunsur Assembly segment.

When the project was proposed in 2020, its estimated cost was Rs. 350 crore. The project cost has since been revised to Rs. 595 crore.

According to sources, the project requires 14 acres of privately owned land at Chikkanahalli and Avarehalli on the Mysuru-Mandya border.

The land is needed for laying new pipelines, a 12-km 66 KV express feeder line, a 2-km raw water rising main and a 2-km purified water rising main to facilitate the supply of 150 million litres per day (MLD) of water.

Sources told Star of Mysore that while the Government has informed landowners that their properties are required for the project, compensation has not yet been released for acquisition.

“Layouts have already been formed on portions of the land. The owners are demanding compensation, but the State Government is yet to release funds to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for acquisition. As a result, the project remains in limbo,” sources said.

Officials said the project has been designed to initially supply 150 MLD of water, with the capacity to provide up to 300 MLD upon full completion. The project agreement was signed on March 8, 2021.

“The civil works are nearing completion. Once the 14 acres of land are acquired and handed over, the remaining works can be completed,” the source said.

The Hale Unduwadi project was conceived to enable water extraction from the KRS reservoir even when water levels fall below the dead storage level of 68 to 70 feet. It is expected to meet Mysuru’s projected drinking water requirements until 2081 and ensure a reliable daily supply of Cauvery water.

In all, 123.7 acres have been earmarked for the project, including 55.06 acres in Mandya and 67.11 acres in Mysuru.