Shivamogga: Local farmers are concerned about the safety of the Bhadra Dam due to the construction of a water purification plant under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Lakkavalli. Farmer leader K.T. Gangadhar warns that the plant’s location within the dam’s buffer zone violates norms and poses a significant threat.
Gangadhar has sought Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s immediate attention, alleging bribery practices involving politicians and officers. He demands a detailed project report, vowing to oppose the construction.
The ₹500-crore project aims to supply 1 TMC of water to villages in Chikkamagaluru and Chitradurga districts. However, farmers fear for the dam’s safety, given its crucial role in irrigating 162,818 hectares of land, generating electricity, and supplying drinking water to nearby villages.
The Bhadra Dam authorities have informed that the project was approved in 2020, with land allotted by the Chikkamagaluru DC under the fishery department’s supervision. Officials are preparing a report on the potential impact.
