Project to fill 88 tanks in Haveri district will be helpful in rain-deficit years: Minister

Satish Jarkiholi, Minister for Public Works and district-in-charge for Haveri, has said that the project to fill 88 tanks in Hirekerur and Rattihalli taluks of Haveri district in Karnataka would be of immense use in the coming days.

He visited the ambitious project of filling Sarvajna tank in Upper Tunga Command Area of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited in Haveri district on July 14.

Mr. Jarkiholi said that such projects would be crucial, particularly in rain-deficit years. The minister said that more tanks in the district needed to be filled up. “At a time when every region is experiencing deficit rainfall, it will be beneficial if the available water is efficiently stored to cater to the needs of farmers, people in general, and for providing water to cattle,” he said.

The government of Karnataka has chalked out a plan to construct check dams on Tunga and Varada rivers in the district, which would help in improving the ground water table. With three rivers, Haveri district has a good irrigation system, he said.

During the inspection, the Minister sought details from officials on the progress of the project, pump house operation, and the process of filling up tanks.

The officials told the Minister that, in all, 88 tanks in 42 villages of Rattihalli and Hirekerur taluks would be filled up by drawing water from Tungabhadra river near Ukkadagatri in Harihar taluk.

As per the government order dated October 25, 2019, administrative approval has been given for the ₹185 crore project. Under the project, provision has been made for total storage capacity of 671.67 Million CFt of water, of which now infrastructure has been created for storage of 345.50 Million CFt. A separate 66 KV transmission line has been laid from Nadigudi village, and a 66 KV power sub-station has been set up near the pump house in Ukkadagatri. In October 2025, motors were commissioned on an experimental basis.

During a review meeting on July 3, the Minister had directed officials to begin filling the tanks following an increase in inflow to Tungabhadra and Varada rivers. Accordingly, three motors under the project were commissioned on July 8 to begin the process of filling up 88 tanks, the officials informed.

Hirekerur MLA U.B. Banakar, and Additional Deputy Commissioner L. Nagaraj were among those who had accompanied the Minister during the inspection.