HAVERI : The Bedthi–Varada river interlinking project is a matter of survival and future security for the people of the region, and the struggle for it is a fight for life itself, BJP MP and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has said, clarifying that the movement is not against any individual or state.
Speaking at a meeting of religious heads, political leaders, and representatives of various organisations here at Hukkeri Mutt on Monday, Bommai said the question of water ownership was not limited to one district but concerns the entire world. “Nature provides water freely, and humanity must learn to share it responsibly. While wars have been fought for power, future conflicts will be over water, making its conservation and equitable distribution critical”, he added.
Bommai noted that India has moved from a water-secure “green zone” to a “red zone” in recent decades. Recognising this challenge, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the concept of interlinking rivers, proposing connections between major rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery. In South India alone, interlinking the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery rivers could yield 500-1,000 TMC of water, of which Karnataka is estimated to receive about 44 TMC.
He emphasised that the Bedthi-Varada-Dharma river interlinking is an intra-state project and does not involve inter-state disputes. The project proposes barrages instead of dams, lift irrigation from outside river basins, and minimal environmental impact.
Any land affected can be compensated through alternative arrangements, while technical experts will address issues through the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Stating that the Union government has already approved the project in principle, and an MoU has been signed to prepare the DPR, the MP said that efforts toward this project have been ongoing for nearly 25 years. Bommai stressed the need for widespread public awareness before DPR finalisation to ensure Haveri district receives its rightful share of water.
Calling it a people’s movement led by farmers and supported by religious leaders, he said the project would benefit not only river basin areas but also towns such as Hangal, Shiggaon, Savanur, Ranebennur, and parts of Gadag district.