The ambitious Hale Unduwadi Drinking Water Project, initiated in June 2021, is currently underway intending to provide drinking water to Mysuru city and 92 surrounding villages. The project is likely to be completed in 2025.

Upon completion, the entire project, being taken up in phases, will facilitate the supply of Cauvery water from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam to Mysuru city, as well as to 139 villages in the Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency and 277 villages in the Hunsur Assembly segment.

The persistent efforts and far-sightedness of Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda and MP Prathap Simha have led to the implementation of the project that has been initiated by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB).

Extensive civil engineering works are currently underway at the village of Hale Unduwadi, Mandya district, as part of a large-scale water supply project sourced from the KRS Dam backwaters.

A pipeline spanning 21.25 km has been constructed from there to Mysuru city, incorporating provisions for electricity connection to static locations. Pending work includes the installation of a 12 km long, 66 KV capacity express feeder line.

This project has been initiated to meet Mysuru’s water demand projections until 2081 and ensure a daily supply of 150 MLD (Million Liters per Day) of water sourced from the KRS Reservoir.

Land acquisition

A total land area of 123.7 acres has been allocated for this project, comprising 55.06 acres from Mandya district and 67.11 acres from Mysuru district. This land is being utilised for the construction of water pumping stations, water treatment plants, jack wells, pipelines and the installation of express feeder lines.

The project’s estimated total expenditure amounts to Rs. 465 crore, with Rs. 100 crore earmarked for land acquisition and Rs. 365 crore allocated for civil and related works. The KUWS&DB is overseeing the project’s implementation.

However, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Rural Water Supply Division, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) are responsible for funding.

Upon completion of the project, a significant portion of the population residing within the jurisdiction of MCC, the MUDA boundary area, the areas coming under the rural water supply division, numerous villages in the Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency, Hunsur town, and many villages within the taluk, as well as settlements developed by KHB, can anticipate a consistent supply of clean drinking water.

Project delays

Despite the initial plan to complete this project within 30 months from its commencement, delays occurred due to objections from farmers regarding land acquisition and subsequent legal proceedings. As a result, the project timeline has been extended and efforts are underway to complete it by July 2025.

Following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election, the KUWS&DB will proceed with finalising the tendering process for the electric feeder line. Meanwhile, civil and other works have progressed significantly, with approximately 65 percent completion.

The construction of a 3.45 km embankment around the pumping station area, starting from the KRS backwaters, is necessary. However, the completion of the pumping station and pipeline electrical connection work is pending. Once these tasks are finalised, the KUWS&DB will commence the water supply operations.

Mysuru’s water needs

Currently, Mysuru city receives 306 MLD of water from various sources. This includes 45 MLD from Belagola Stages 1, 2 and 3; 36 MLD from Hongalli Stage 2; 65 MLD from Hongalli Stage 3; 100 MLD from Cauvery River near Melapura along with 60 MLD from the Kabini project.

Before the implementation of the AMRUTH (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) project, Mysuru city was receiving only 255 MLD of water from all these sources.

There is a shortage of 150 MLD of water to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population in Mysuru city. With the population estimated to reach 4.3 million by 2081, the demand for water is expected to reach 1,310 MLD. Hence, new projects are being proposed to meet this demand.