Project to fill 88 tanks in Haveri district will be helpful in rain-deficit years: Minister

Satish Jarkiholi, Minister of Public Works and in-charge of Haveri district, said that the project to fill 88 tanks in Hirekerur and Rattihalli taluks of Haveri district of Karnataka will bring great benefits in the coming days.

On July 14, he visited the ambitious project of filling Sarvajna tank in Upper Tunga Command Area of ​​Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited in Haveri district.

Mr. Jarkiholi said such projects will be very important, especially in years when rainfall is low. The minister said more tanks in the area need to be filled. “At a time when every region is experiencing rainfall shortage, it would be beneficial to efficiently store existing water to meet the needs of farmers and people in general and to provide water for cattle,” he said.

The Karnataka government has announced a plan to build check dams on the Tunga and Varada rivers in the district, which will help improve the groundwater level. He said Haveri district, which has three rivers, has a good irrigation system.

During the inspection, the Minister asked the authorities for detailed information about the progress of the project, the operation of the pump house and the filling process of the tanks.

Officials told the Minister that a total of 88 tanks in 42 villages of Rattihalli and Hirekerur taluks will be filled by drawing water from the Tungabhadra river near Ukkadagatri in Harihar taluk.

As per the government order dated October 25, 2019, administrative approval was given for the project worth Rs 185 crore. Within the scope of the project, provision has been made for a total of 671.67 Million CFt of water storage capacity, and the infrastructure for storing 345.50 Million CFt of this has been created. A separate 66 KV transmission line has been laid from Nadigudi village and a 66 KV power substation has been set up near the pump house at Ukkadagatri. In October 2025, the engines were put into experimental commissioning.

In the review meeting on July 3, the Minister had instructed the officials to start filling the tanks following the increase in flow into Tungabhadra and Varada rivers. According to the information provided by the authorities, the three engines within the scope of the project were put into operation on July 8 to start the filling process of 88 tanks.

Among those who accompanied the Minister during the inspection were Hirekerur MLA UB Banakar and Additional Deputy Commissioner L. Nagaraj.