State seeks allocation of 40 to 45 tmcft of water in river linking projects | Karnataka’s second monkey fever lab

State seeks allocation of 40 to 45 tmcft of water in river linking projects

Why in news:

• Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, representing the Karnataka State Government at the 24th meeting of the National Water Development Authority (NWDA) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights

• Purpose: To secure an increased total water allocation of 40 to 45 tmcft for Karnataka within the national river-linking frameworks, specifically to address drinking water and irrigation needs.
• Key Demands: The State specifically urged the Centre to provide an additional 5 tmcft of water to the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) region via the Godavari-Cauvery link primarily for drinking water purposes.
• Current Allocation Status: Karnataka has currently been allocated a total of 40 tmcft under two major projects:
  • 90 tmcft from the Godavari-Cauvery link.
  • 50 tmcft from the Varada-Bedti link.
• Godavari-Cauvery Project Data: In the first phase, a total of 148 tmcft of water is set to be diverted; Karnataka has requested clarification on the usage and distribution of its 15.90 tmcft share.
• Varada-Bedti Project Details: A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for this intra-state link. The estimated cost is ₹10,000 crore, with 90% of the expenditure to be borne by the Centre.
• Note : The NWDA has been formed under the leadership of the Union Minister of Jal Shakti for river linking, and all States are its members.

Additional information – Godavari-Cauvery River Linking Project.

• Route Alignment (3-Stage Link): The project proposes a massive transfer of water through the following path:
  • Godavari (Inchampalli Barrage) –Krishna (Nagarjunasagar Dam)
  • Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila Dam)
  • Pennar (Somasila) – Cauvery (Grand Anicut)
• Key Statistics:
  • Total Diversion: Approximately 148 TMC (4,189 MCM) of unutilized water from the Godavari basin.
  • Tamil Nadu Share: 41 TMC earmarked for irrigation and drinking water supply to Chennai.
  • Karnataka’s Stance: The State claims rights to 45 TMC of water before giving approval for the project.
• Infrastructure & Technology:
  • Starting Point: The Inchampalli Barrage on the Godavari river serves as the primary source.
  • Transport Mechanism: The project incorporates the use of Steel Pipes instead of traditional open canals in specific sections to significantly reduce evaporation losses.
• Beneficiary Hierarchy:
  • Major Beneficiaries: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Minor Beneficiaries:

Bedti – varada liking project

• Proposed by: The Karnataka State Government (Water Resources Department).
• Core Purpose: To divert approximately 22 TMC of “surplus” water from the west-flowing Bedti river to the east-flowing Varada river (a tributary of the Tungabhadra) to mitigate water scarcity in North Karnataka.
• Route & Mechanism:
  • Source: Bedti River (Western Ghats, flowing to the Arabian Sea).
  • Destination: Varada River (Flows East).
  • Engineering: The project involves two mix-links utilizing 8 km tunnels and lifting (pumping) stations at Pattanahalla and Suremane.
• Target Objectives:
  • Irrigation: Designed to irrigate approximately 1 Lakh Hectares in the Tungabhadra Left Bank region.
  • Usage: Providing drinking water for arid towns and sustaining rain-fed crops such as Cotton and Jowar.
• Beneficiaries: The project targets the drought-prone districts of Raichur, Gadag, Haveri, and Koppal.
• Infrastructure:
  • Dam 1: At Menasagoda (Pattanahalla stream).
  • Dam 2: At Hirevadatti (Gadag district).
• Financials: The estimated cost ranges between ₹2,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore, subject to final plan modifications.
• Conflict & Status:
  • Proponents: Farmers in North Karnataka seeking drought relief.
  • Opponents: Environmentalists and locals in Uttara Kannada (Sirsi), citing the potential loss of 2,100+ acres of forest and damage to the ecologically sensitive Myristica Swamps.
  • Status: Highly controversial; while the government has approved the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR), widespread implementation is stalled due to protests.

Karnataka’s second monkey fever lab

Why in news :

• Second KFD testing lab will come up in Sirsi soon

Key Highlights

• Launched by : The Health Department is set to establish another Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) testing laboratory at Sirsi of Uttara Kannada district
• Aim: to strengthen early detection and control of the disease.
• The first laboratory is currently functioning in Shivamogga.
• Benefits: new laboratory would benefit residents of Sirsi, Siddapur and surrounding areas by enabling quicker diagnosis, which, in turn, would help reduce mortality to zero

Additional information  – About Kyasanur Forest Disease

• Origin : First identified in 1957 in Karnataka’s Kyasanur Forest, it is commonly known as Monkey Fever.
• Type: It is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (family Flaviviridae).
• Transmission: Spread to humans via tick bites (mainly Haemaphysalis spinigera) or contact with infected animals, particularly sick or dead monkeys.
• No person-to-person transmission exists.
• Seasonality: Epidemics usually last from October to June, with a peak period between January and April.
• Symptoms: Sudden high fever, headache, and vomiting; severe cases may involve bleeding (hemorrhagic) and neurological issues.
• Mortality: The disease has a fatality rate of approximately 5% to 10%.
• Treatment: There is no cure; management relies on supportive care (hydration, oxygen, and maintaining blood pressure).
• Prevention: A vaccine is available and widely recommended in affected regions of India.