DK Shivakumar: Yettinahole project to restart, ₹257 crore penalty cleared
Synopsis
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has ordered an immediate ₹257 crore payment to the Union Environment Ministry to unblock the long-delayed Yettinahole drinking water project, promising work restarts within a week. Simultaneously, 5,300 acres are being earmarked for the contentious Mekedatu project — signalling a rare multi-front push on Karnataka's most politically and environmentally fraught water schemes.
Key Takeaways
DK Shivakumar announced resumption of the Yettinahole project within a week, following acceptance of Union Environment Ministry conditions.
Karnataka directed to pay ₹257 crore as penalty and mitigation cost; Shivakumar ordered payment on 30 April 2025 itself.
5,300 acres of land to be allocated to the Forest Department as part of Mekedatu project requirements; DPR ready for submission.
About 10 per cent of land transfer from Revenue to Forest Department remains pending, to be completed within a week.
Land acquisition survey to be conducted in Tumakuru ; water supply targeted for Kolar and Chikkaballapur at the earliest.
Meeting at Vidhana Soudha also covered the Bhadra Upper Canal project , with Revenue, Forest, and Home Ministers in attendance.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 30 April 2025, announced that pending works on the Yettinahole drinking water project will resume within a week, after the state agreed to pay a ₹257 crore penalty directed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Shivakumar, who also serves as state Congress president, additionally disclosed that 5,300 acres of land will be allocated to the Forest Department as part of statutory requirements for the Mekedatu project.
Yettinahole: Payment Ordered, Work to Begin
Addressing reporters after a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said he had directed officials to process the ₹257 crore payment immediately.
Point of View
Mekedatu, and Bhadra Upper Canal in a single press conference is as much political signalling as administrative action. Yettinahole has been stuck for years — promising a one-week restart after a penalty payment is a bold public commitment that will be easy to verify and hard to walk back. The Mekedatu DPR submission is the more consequential move: it keeps the project alive in the face of Tamil Nadu's sustained opposition, but without Central clearance, a ready DPR is still just paper. Karnataka's water politics have historically outpaced its water delivery, and Shivakumar's credibility on these projects will ultimately be measured in pipes laid and taps turned on — not press conferences held.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yettinahole project and why was it stalled?
The Yettinahole project is a Karnataka government initiative to divert water from the Yettinahole stream in the Western Ghats to drought-prone districts including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural. It was stalled due to environmental clearance conditions, land acquisition delays, and financial constraints, including a ₹257 crore penalty directed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
What is the ₹257 crore payment related to the Yettinahole project?
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change directed Karnataka to pay ₹257 crore as a penalty and mitigation measure linked to the Yettinahole project. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on 30 April 2025 ordered officials to process the payment immediately so that contractors could begin work within the week.
What is the current status of the Mekedatu project?
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir and drinking water project has been prepared and will be submitted to the competent committee for approvals. Around 5,300 acres of land are to be allocated to the Forest Department as a statutory requirement. The project remains subject to inter-state dispute with Tamil Nadu and requires Central environmental clearances.
Which districts will benefit from the Yettinahole project?
The Yettinahole project is designed to supply drinking water to the drought-prone districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and parts of Bengaluru Rural district in Karnataka's eastern and central regions.
What is the Bhadra Upper Canal project?
The Bhadra Upper Canal project is an irrigation and water supply scheme in Karnataka that draws water from the Bhadra reservoir to benefit drought-prone districts including Chitradurga, Davanagere, Tumakuru, and parts of Ballari. It was among the three projects discussed at the Vidhana Soudha meeting on 30 April 2025.
