The Hindu 27.11.2010
Drinking water project for MM Hills cleared
| A 21-km pipeline will be drawn from the Cauvery for it |
The Rs. 27.5-crore project was envisaged
by S.M. Krishna when he was Chief Minister
The project was delayed because of
objection by the MoEF
MYSORE: With the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granting permission to draw a 21-km pipeline from the Cauvery, a major hurdle to the Rs. 27.5- crore drinking water project for Male Mahadeshwara (MM Hills) has been cleared.
The Male Mahadeshwara Temple Authority (MMTA) has already deposited Rs. 13 crore with the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board and earmarked Rs. 14.50 crore for release based on the progress of work. The tender for drawing the pipeline has been finalised and work is scheduled to begin by December-end. MM Hills is famous for the Lord Mahadeshwara temple, which is situated at an altitude of 3,000 ft and surrounded by dense forests of the Eastern Ghats. The temple attracts millions of devotees and nature lovers. However, drinking water is scarce in the area.
It was Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna who envisaged a drinking water project for the region when he was the Chief Minister. Mr. Krishna used to visit MM Hills often as Mahadeshwara is his family deity. The problem of drinking water was brought to his notice on one of these visits and he directed the authorities to prepare a project to supply drinking water from the Cauvery.
According to Kumaraswamy, executive officer of the MMTA, the project was prepared at an estimated cost of Rs. 11 crore. It was decided to take a contribution of Rs. 3 crore from the temple authority and the Government would provide the rest. However, the Tamil Nadu Government objected to the project and approached the court. The MoEF also objected as trees would have to be cut to draw the pipeline from Palar to MM Hills. Hence, the project was stalled for some time.
However, Mr. Krishna took up the matter and assured the MoEF of double the number of trees to be uprooted would be planted, besides agreeing to deposit Rs. 25 lakh for the purpose. Finally, the MoEF relented.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had also promised that the project would be implemented during his recent visit to Gundlupet for participating in the Bhagyalakshmi programme.
