Former MLA A. Manjunath highlighted sustained efforts and political challenges behind bringing the Hemavati irrigation project to Magadi.
Magadi
Former MLA A. Manjunath has reiterated that significant and consistent efforts were made to bring the much-needed Hemavati Irrigation Project to Magadi taluk, calling it one of the most important developmental initiatives for the region. Speaking at a press conference held at the JDS office, he detailed the long and complex process involved in securing approvals and ensuring the project moved from planning to execution.
Manjunath said he worked closely with former minister H.M. Revanna and former Member of Parliament D.K. Suresh from the very beginning of the project. Their efforts, he explained, started from the crucial stage of preparing and getting approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which is often the most challenging phase for large irrigation schemes. He stressed that persistent coordination with the government and technical departments was required to overcome administrative hurdles.
Recalling the early days of the project, Manjunath said there was skepticism and criticism from certain political quarters. When the DPR approval was being sought, then MLA Balakrishna had openly criticized the proposal, questioning whether Hemavati water would ever actually reach Magadi. Despite such opposition, Manjunath said he continued to pursue the matter with determination, engaging with officials and policymakers to ensure the project did not stall.
After sustained efforts, the DPR approval was finally obtained. Manjunath explained that a comprehensive plan was then introduced to supply water to 83 lakes across the taluk by covering every village. This ambitious plan, he said, was designed to address chronic water scarcity, improve groundwater levels, and provide long-term benefits to agriculture and drinking water needs.
He also acknowledged the role played by Engineer Nagaraju and Managing Director Jayaprakash, who, according to him, placed strong emphasis on the effective implementation of the project. Their technical guidance and monitoring helped translate policy decisions into on-ground action.