Hassan: The Yettinahole drinking water project seems to be facing yet another road block as many private mini-hydel projects on the Kempuhole stream have expressed fear that the project may affect power production if the water from the stream is diverted for the project.
Kempuhole stream, a tributary of the River Gundia, is one among other streams in Sakleshpura of Hassan District, from where the state government aims to divert water to supply to the water scarce districts of Kolar, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura and others.
Yettinahole Project which has been taken up by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, requires 24 TMC of water is to be diverted from the streams including Kempuhole. But the diversion of water has raised concern among the officials of Kempuhole mini-hydel project, Nagarajuna mini hydel, Paschim mini hydel and Mysore Mercantile Limited, all of them private power projects. They fear power production will fall if water is diverted.
In all, the four power projects on Kempuhole stream generate 45 mega watt of power daily and the fall in power production would affect residents in Alur, Hassan and Sakleshpur taluks of Hassan who draw power from these private power plants.
