Karnataka to Combat Water Theft with New Legislation

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has announced plans to introduce a new law to address the major issue of water theft from irrigation canals. The legislation is expected to be introduced in a week's time. The announcement was made during the Legislative Assembly’s Question Hour.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has termed water theft from irrigation canals as a ''major problem'' and announced that the government will soon introduce a new law to tackle it. Speaking at the Legislative Assembly, Shivakumar, who also serves as the water resources minister, declared that a Bill would be presented within a week.

Shivakumar's comments came in response to a query from Jamkhandi BJP MLA Jagadeesh Shivayya Gudagunti during the Assembly's Question Hour. ''In districts with irrigation projects like Mandya, Hassan, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi among others - this is a major problem. Water is not reaching the tail-end regions,'' said Shivakumar.

Shivakumar raised concerns about water being ''siphoned off'' from canals using bores or motors. He also expressed apprehension about the Yettinahole project, on which the government has already spent Rs 25,000 crore, fearing that water may not reach tail-end areas. He urged political and public leaders to work towards preventing water theft from canals in their respective regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)