A pipeline burst in Karnataka’s Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project has led to continuous water loss since Saturday night, with officials yet to repair the damage. The leak near Halasuli in Hassan district’s Sakleshpur taluk raises concerns over negligence amid the state’s drought-like conditions.
Yettinahole Project Faces Repeated Failures
The ₹23,252-crore project, launched by the Congress government, aims to divert 24 TMC of surplus monsoon water from the Western Ghats to supply drinking water to Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural districts. Despite its ambitious scope, repeated pipeline failures have cast doubts on its execution and maintenance.
Local residents captured videos of water gushing from the burst pipeline, with fears that contact with a live power line above the leak could trigger an accident. The project, inaugurated in phases starting September 2024, has faced opposition over environmental and land acquisition issues since its 2014 foundation.
Drought Concerns Amplify Scrutiny
With Karnataka facing water scarcity due to insufficient rains, the latest leak has intensified criticism over wasted resources. The first phase was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, but ongoing issues persist.
Officials have not yet addressed the leak, leaving the project’s reliability in question as the state grapples with water shortages.
