Yettinahole Project

The Yettinahole Project is a major inter-basin water diversion and drinking water supply scheme undertaken by the Government of Karnataka, India. It aims to transfer water from the west-flowing rivers of the Western Ghats to the drought-prone and water-scarce districts of central and eastern Karnataka. The project is designed to provide long-term relief to regions frequently affected by water shortages, particularly for drinking and domestic use, while also enhancing groundwater recharge in the target areas.

Location and Purpose

The project draws its name from the Yettinahole stream, one of the headwater tributaries of the Netravathi River, originating in the Western Ghats near Sakleshpur in Hassan District. Along with Yettinahole, several other nearby streams such as Kadumane Hole, Kerihole, and Hongadahalla are tapped to form the source system.
The principal objective of the Yettinahole Project is to divert surplus water from these west-flowing streams—most of which flow into the Arabian Sea during monsoon months—to water-deficient inland districts, including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Bengaluru Rural, Hassan, Chitradurga, and Ramanagara. These regions face acute shortages of drinking water due to erratic rainfall, declining groundwater, and poor storage capacity.

Project Design and Components

The Yettinahole Project involves a complex system of headworks, pumping stations, pipelines, reservoirs, and distribution networks. Its major components include:

1. Headworks and Diversion Structures:
   • Construction of small weirs and intake structures across the Yettinahole and other feeder streams to collect monsoon runoff.
   • The captured water is lifted using pumping systems to higher elevations for transfer toward the east.
2. Lifting and Conveyance System:
   • Multi-stage lift systems carry the collected water through a network of pipelines and tunnels across the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats.
   • The water is conveyed eastward for over 250 kilometres, passing through Hassan and Tumakuru districts.
3. Intermediate Storage and Reservoirs:
   • Several balancing reservoirs and storage tanks are planned along the route to regulate flow and aid groundwater recharge.
   • More than 500 tanks and lakes are to be replenished in the beneficiary regions.
4. Distribution and Utilisation:
   • The water ultimately reaches drought-affected areas, where it will be used primarily for drinking and domestic purposes, with indirect benefits for irrigation through groundwater improvement.

The total estimated water diversion capacity is about 24.01 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), intended to serve over 7.5 million people across multiple districts.

Timeline and Cost

The Yettinahole Project was conceptualised in the early 2000s and formally approved by the Karnataka Government in 2012. The initial cost estimate was around ₹12,900 crore, later revised to over ₹23,000 crore due to cost escalation and changes in design.
Construction has proceeded in phases under the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL). However, the project has experienced delays due to land acquisition challenges, environmental clearance issues, and technical difficulties in constructing lift systems across rugged terrain. The government aims to complete major infrastructure components by the latter half of this decade.

Expected Benefits

1. Drinking Water Supply:
   • The primary goal is to ensure safe and reliable drinking water for drought-prone towns and villages across the eastern districts.
   • This will reduce dependence on depleting groundwater sources and mitigate the impacts of recurring droughts.
2. Groundwater Recharge:
   • By filling lakes and tanks along the route, the project is expected to recharge aquifers and restore local water tables.
3. Regional Equity:
   • The scheme seeks to reduce disparities in water availability between the high-rainfall Western Ghats and the arid inland regions of Karnataka.
4. Socio-Economic Development:
   • Improved water availability will enhance public health, livestock rearing, and rural livelihoods, thereby promoting regional development.

Environmental and Social Concerns

Despite its intended benefits, the Yettinahole Project has attracted considerable environmental, social, and scientific debate:

• Ecological Impact: The diversion structures are located in the eco-sensitive Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot. Construction activities may cause deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and disruption of natural river systems.
• Downstream Effects: Diverting headwaters of the Netravathi River could reduce flow to downstream communities and estuarine ecosystems in coastal Karnataka.
• Hydrological Uncertainty: Critics argue that the so-called “surplus” streams may not carry enough water during weak monsoon years, making the project unreliable.
• Implementation Challenges: Technical and financial constraints, delays in clearances, and local opposition have slowed progress.

Governance and Institutional Framework

The Yettinahole Project is implemented by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) under the Department of Water Resources, Government of Karnataka. It is part of the State’s broader inter-basin water transfer policy aimed at improving water security in arid regions. The project requires coordination among multiple government departments, including those responsible for environment, forests, and energy.

Broader Significance

The Yettinahole Project exemplifies the challenges of balancing development with environmental conservation in water resource planning. It highlights critical geographical and hydrological themes, including:

• Regional inequality in water distribution across climatic zones.
• The role of engineering interventions in addressing drought vulnerability.
• The trade-offs between environmental protection and human water demand.