Doddaballapur demands Yettinahole and Cauvery water, rejects treated Vrishabhavathi water

Doddaballapur: MLA Dheeraj Muniraju has called on all Gram Panchayats in the taluk to pass resolutions within 15 days, asserting that Doddaballapur needs water from the Yettinahole and Cauvery projects, not treated water from Bengaluru's Vrishabhavathi River.

Speaking at a public consultation meeting on Saturday, Muniraju highlighted that the Deputy Chief Minister has already laid the foundation for a project to supply Vrishabhavathi water to lakes in Nelamangala taluk, despite opposition from local farmers. A detailed project report is also being prepared to purify and supply Vrishabhavathi water to Madure and Aralumallige lakes in Doddaballapur. He urged local representatives and citizens to resist this plan.

Muniraju stated that if resolutions against the Vrishabhavathi water project are passed by all Gram Panchayats, the issue will be raised in the upcoming monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly.

Farmer T. Rangaraaju from Chikkatumkur village strongly echoed this sentiment, stating, "We oppose the plan to supply Bengaluru's sewage water (Vrishabhavathi) to our taluk and the dumping of BBMP waste here. The people of the taluk are ready for any form of protest. Otherwise, the future of our children will be bleak."

The MLA also pointed out that the Yettinahole project currently only plans to fill seven lakes in Sasalu hobli and demanded that all 28 lakes under the Minor Irrigation Department in the taluk should also receive Yettinahole water.

Muniraju announced that an all-party delegation from the taluk would meet the State Irrigation Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The demand is to extend the Cauvery water pipeline, already laid for the Bashettihalli industrial area, to cover the City Municipal Council limits and villages within the Doddathumukuru and Majarahosahalli Gram Panchayats.