Irrigation expert G S Paramashivaiah accused the state government of misinterpreting his report on irrigating parched taluks of the state by diverting east-flowing rivers in the Western Ghats.
It is unfortunate that the government yet to understand the theme of the project and might have not interested to implement the same, he added.
Addressing the gathering at a seminar“River water for tanks” organized in Arsikere on Saturday he said that water can be supplied for dried taluks through gravity without disturbing forest wealth by constructing dams. It is unfortunate that the government often saying that the water will lift from the Yettinahalla river which also flows towards west through lift irrigation, he added.
It is better if the state government forms a high-power committee comprising of chief engineers and retired chief engineers to study the pros and cons of his report in detail and come up with right decision earliest, he said. He said he never forced the state government to accept his report. People in dry taluks will benefit if the government considers the report, he said.
Tumkur MP G S Basavaraju said that elected representatives, farmer leaders and progressive leaders should take up this issue seriously. Former Arsikere MLA A S Basavaraj was also present.