Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project

Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project is a fluorosis mitigation drinking water project being undertaken at Hogenakkal, Dharmapuri district, state of Tamil Nadu, India. [ [http://omms.nic.in/aspnet/Citizens/DG/05DVC/CensusStatus.aspx?state=TN&district=4&block=3&reportLevel=3 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana] ] It is scheduled to be executed by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), with funding from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) using Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery river water. The project aims to supply safe drinking water to drought prone [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080045964&ch=4/5/2008 Hogenakkal Drinking Water Project] ] & fluorosis affected Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu.

Background

Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu are drought prone and had been the cause of high political debates [ [http://164.100.47.5/rsdebate/synopsis/199/21082003.htm Rajya Sabha (SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES)] ] and riots. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/08/03/stories/2002080301400500.htm The Hindu- Drought drives ryots out of Dharmapuri] ] Although the Kaveri river enters the state at Biligundulu in Krishnagiri district, it does not contribute to irrigation or drinking water purposes there. [http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082515430100.htm The Hindu - Wanted: water without fluoride] ] With 10 of the 29 constituent districts in Tamil Nadu affected by fluorosis, [ [http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-21-0-000-000-2007-Web/JHE-21-1-000-000-2007-Abstract-PDF/JHE-21-1-027-032-2007-1522-Kumar-R-H/JHE-21-1-027-032-2007-1522-Kumar-R-H-Tt.pdf Journal of Human Ecology - Assessment of Current Status of Fluorosis in North-Western Districts of Tamil Nadu Using Community Index for Dental Fluorosis] ] Dharmapuri district has the highest concentration of endemic fluoride in the State. [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/05/25/stories/2004052513120500.htm The Hindu - Fluoride contamination in water highest in Dharmapuri] ]

Project details

The total cost of this entire flourosis mitigation project is Rs. 13.34 billion. 1.4 tmc feet of water is to be utilised for the Hogenakkal drinking water project. It will be from Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water, thereby placing no extra demand on Karnataka.

1998 Pact on Bangalore & Hogenakal Projects

The Tamil Nadu government has received a no objection certificate from the central government for the Hogenakkal drinking water scheme. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200804021654.htm Baalu urges PM to advice Karnataka not to oppose Hogenakkal project] ] . A similar agreement with the J. H. Patel led government of Karnataka in 1998 was based on the premise that both states wont obstruct drinking water schemes from Cauvery as long as the water drawn for such a project is sourced from the respective state's share of Cauvery water [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/01/stories/2008040160980100.htm Karnataka gave consent in 1998 to Hogenakkal project: Tamil Nadu] ] , whose proceedings have been recorded.A copy of the letter given to the then Tamil Nadu Government Chief Secretary from the Union Ministry of Water Resources can be found here . [cite web
url=http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/05/stories/2008040550260100.htm|title= Letter to Tamil Nadu Government Chief Secretary from the Union Ministry |publisher=thehindu.com
accessdate=2006-11-11 ]

Areas covered

The project is expected to cover 6,755 households in three municipal areas, 17 panchayats and 18 town panchayats, benefiting about three million people. Drinking water will be pumped to a master balancing reservoir at Madam, about 11 km from Hogenakkal. After treatment, water will be pumped for 145 km to cover areas such as Palacode, Marandahalli and Hosur in Tamilnadu. Remaining areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts will be covered by taking advantage of altitude gradient. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/04/stories/2008040460841300.htm The Hindu - Only a drinking water project: Tamil Nadu] ]

tatus of the project- Timeline

June 29, 1998

In 1998, Karnataka agreed to abide by the conditions imposed by the Union Water Resources Ministry if Tamil Nadu withdrew its objections to the Cauvery water being used to augment supply to Bangalore, according to the minutes of a meeting convened by the Union Secretary (Water Resources) and attended by officers of the Cauvery basin States on drinking water supply schemes of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on June 29, 1998. [ [http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/05/stories/2008040550260100.htm The 1998 story of Hogenakkal] ]

February 26,2008

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation stone for the project on February 26, 2008.

May, 2008

To draw something from Hogenakkal to his party’s advantage in the assembly elections, Mr. Yeddiurappa claimed that the proposed drinking water project site in Hogenakkal is situated in Karnataka and his controversial claim sparked of the controversy. Realising, that Yeddiurappa is making an issue out of a non-issue, other political parties in Karnataka followed suit to offset the advantage, if any that may be gained by BJP. Even the BJP leader and President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, has clearly stated that Mr. Yeddiyurappa is making only a political stunt to gain some advantage in the assembly elections. Unscrupulous politicians in Karnataka prolonged the agitation targeting the Tamils until the Assembly elections got over there. [ [http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131757 Political turmoil in Karnataka over Hogenakkal project] ]
Government of Tamil Nadu announced on April 5 2008 that it will wait till a new government takes charge in Karnataka. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200804051321.htm Tamil Nadu Govt. puts the project on hold] ] M Karunanidhi, the chief Minister of Tamil Nadu reportedly said, "the project will not be shelved". [http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14640368] [ http://news.oneindia.in/2008/04/08/hogenakkal-project-not-shelved-only-put-on-hold-karunanidhi-1207647385.html] [http://www.aol.in/tamil/news/2008/04/08/tn-hogenakkal-project-not-shelved-only-put-on-hold.html ]

June, 2008

As a first step toward the implementation of the project, the unit office of the Hogenakkal water supply project was opened at Oddapatti near Dharmapuri on 17 June 2008. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008061953740400.htm&date=2008/06/19/&prd=th& Unit office] ]

ee also

* Hogenakkal Water Dispute
* Hogenakkal Falls

References

External links

* [http://www.tn.gov.in/pressrelease/archives/pr2008/pr260208/pr260208f.htm Tamil Nadu Government - Press Release regarding laying the foundation stone]