MYSURU: The state government had earlier planned to construct a balancing reservoir near Mekedatu to meet the drinking water needs of the people there. It has now decided to construct a bridge across the Cauvery, that will reduce the distance between Bengaluru, M M Hills and Hanur by 45 km.
This bridge will open up the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco-tourism hub, and connect B R hills, Sangama, Hogenekkal M M Hills and many other tourist spots. It will facilitate an economic corridor between Bengalauru, Kanakapura, Salem and Coimbatore. Pilgrims and people going towards Hanur, M M Hills and other destinations, have to travel via Kanakapura, Malavalli, Kollegal and Hanur, which is a 50 km longer route. The state government has assigned the Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP) for the project, with funding gotten from the Asian Development Bank. A Delhi-based company has done a preliminary survey for the project.
A 13 km stretch of road on the route, and the proposed bridge, are within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary limits, and the government hence needs environmental clearance to go ahead with the project.
If they get the clearance, it will give scope for conducting an engineering study and to look into the alignment of the road from Sathanur, D Halli, Omshnathidhama and Mekedatu, which connects at Sagya near Hanur.
MP D K Suresh said he and Chamrajnagar MP R Druvanarayan will take up the matter with the Environment Department.
He said if permission is received for the bridge, it will reduce the distance of travel, and connect backward regions to Benglauru and Comibatore.
PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa said “I am confident that environmental clearance for the project will be received at the earliest. There isn’t much wildlife or thick forests where the road and bridge are planned,” Mahadevappa added.
Bridge at Kaveripura
Mahadevappa said a 480 metre KRDCL bridge which will have an 1.8 km approach road across the Cauvery, near Kaveripura, will cost `50 crore, and will cut down the distance between Talakadu and Kollegal by 16 km.
The bridge will be 12 meters in width, and will have a footpath. It will be built on 14 pillars, and will be completed in two years.
“Presently, around 4,000 people from nearby villages cross the river on boats and pay `10 for a one-way trip. A tragedy occurred when a boat capsized a couple of years ago,” he added.