<p>The detailed project report (DPR) for the implementation of the Mekedatu drinking water project will be readied within three months. <br /><br /></p>.<p>It will be sent to the Central Water Commission and Ministry of Environment and Forests, for approval, said Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Thursday.<br /><br />Addressing the media, Patil said that though the process was yet to be initiated, the department was taking measures to “expedite” the process, so that it can be sent for approval at the earliest.<br /><br />He said that usually it took close to one year to prepare the DPR and complete the evaluation process. But given the importance of the project, the department was “freezing” the process to three months, he added.<br /><br />Patil said that three companies - Wapcos Ltd, a Government of India undertaking; Tahal Group, Israel; and SNC Lavalin, Mumbai had qualified for preparing the report and that the Request for Proposal would be issued to one of them by the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd within one week.<br /><br />Cauvery pollution<br /><br />With regard to the National Green Tribunal’s notice served on the State government for “polluting” Cauvery river water, Patil said that the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Water Resources department would jointly file a “satisfactory” reply before the tribunal. <br /><br />World Bank projects<br /><br />Patil said the Almatti and Narayanapura dams would be rehabilitated under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme of the Centre, which involves World Bank assistance of $290.9 million. <br /><br />The State government got an approval from the World Bank for taking up works on Almatti at Rs 71.50 crore and Narayanapura dam at Rs 114.50 crore. <br /><br />In May, Karnataka sent a proposal to include five other dams - Amarja, Bennethora, KRS, Hidkal and Malaprabha. In June, the government made a proposal to include 10 other dams at a cost of Rs 170 crore.<br /><br />KRS dam<br /><br />Works on the KRS dam would be taken up in the next six months. As the century-old dam has been built using limestone, it has developed cracks. The gates too need repair. Already, three gates have been repaired using State grants, Patil said.<br /><br />The rehabilitation works will not include desilting of the dams. The focus will be on improving the dam structure and safety, taking up repair and ugrading works.</p>
<p>The detailed project report (DPR) for the implementation of the Mekedatu drinking water project will be readied within three months. <br /><br /></p>.<p>It will be sent to the Central Water Commission and Ministry of Environment and Forests, for approval, said Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Thursday.<br /><br />Addressing the media, Patil said that though the process was yet to be initiated, the department was taking measures to “expedite” the process, so that it can be sent for approval at the earliest.<br /><br />He said that usually it took close to one year to prepare the DPR and complete the evaluation process. But given the importance of the project, the department was “freezing” the process to three months, he added.<br /><br />Patil said that three companies - Wapcos Ltd, a Government of India undertaking; Tahal Group, Israel; and SNC Lavalin, Mumbai had qualified for preparing the report and that the Request for Proposal would be issued to one of them by the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd within one week.<br /><br />Cauvery pollution<br /><br />With regard to the National Green Tribunal’s notice served on the State government for “polluting” Cauvery river water, Patil said that the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Water Resources department would jointly file a “satisfactory” reply before the tribunal. <br /><br />World Bank projects<br /><br />Patil said the Almatti and Narayanapura dams would be rehabilitated under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme of the Centre, which involves World Bank assistance of $290.9 million. <br /><br />The State government got an approval from the World Bank for taking up works on Almatti at Rs 71.50 crore and Narayanapura dam at Rs 114.50 crore. <br /><br />In May, Karnataka sent a proposal to include five other dams - Amarja, Bennethora, KRS, Hidkal and Malaprabha. In June, the government made a proposal to include 10 other dams at a cost of Rs 170 crore.<br /><br />KRS dam<br /><br />Works on the KRS dam would be taken up in the next six months. As the century-old dam has been built using limestone, it has developed cracks. The gates too need repair. Already, three gates have been repaired using State grants, Patil said.<br /><br />The rehabilitation works will not include desilting of the dams. The focus will be on improving the dam structure and safety, taking up repair and ugrading works.</p>