Haveri: Public works minister and Haveri district minister Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday said the project to fill 88 lakes in Hirekerur and Rattihalli taluks will emerge as a lifeline for farmers, residents and livestock, especially at a time when rainfall is becoming increasingly scarce.After inspecting the ambitious Sarvajna lake-filling project being implemented under the Upper Tunga Project Zone of the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam, the minister said several more lakes across the district still need to be replenished. With rainfall declining, he stressed that effective storage of available water and restoration of lakes would ensure irrigation support for farmers, drinking water for residents and a reliable water source for livestock in the years ahead.“In earlier times, kings and community leaders attached great importance to building and preserving lakes. Continuing that tradition, the government is implementing lake-filling schemes effectively, which will strengthen future water security,” he said.Jarkiholi also said the government has drawn up plans to construct check dams across the Tunga and Varada rivers to retain water and improve groundwater levels, thereby boosting agriculture. He noted that Haveri district is endowed with three major rivers and a robust irrigation network.Project reviewUnder the project, water from the Tungabhadra river is being supplied to 88 lakes spread across 42 villages in Hirekerur and Rattihalli taluks. Water is lifted through pump houses near Ukkadagatri village in Harihar taluk and transported to the lakes through MS and HDPE pipelines of varying capacities.Officials informed the minister that the project would significantly improve the availability of drinking water, domestic-use water and irrigation resources for villagers and livestock. The initiative is also expected to help recharge groundwater reserves through the replenished lakes.Hirekerur-Rattihalli MLA UB Banakar, additional deputy commissioner L Nagaraj, Karnataka WAKF Board vice-chairperson Sunil Hanamannanavar and several district-level officials accompanied the minister during the inspection.
