Collector initiates study on alternative water supply options for Ichalkaranji

Kolhapur: Collector Amol Yedge has ordered the technical committee to study various options concerning the Ichalkaranji water scheme and submit a report within 10 days.
The state govt had earlier approved the plan to supply water to Ichalkaranji from Sulkud village in Kagal tehsil, located on Dudhganga river, some 30km from Ichalkaranji. Villagers from Kagal tehsil opposed the Sulkud water scheme plan fearing water scarcity if the water is transferred through a pipeline to Ichalkaranji.
Due to the opposition to Sulkud water scheme, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a meeting held on March 22, asked for alternative options for supplying water to Ichalkaranji. The next meeting in this case is likely to be held on April 15, and accordingly, the district administration is studying alternative options for Sulkud water scheme.
A meeting was held in Mumbai on March 22, chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and in the presence of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, regarding Ichalkaranji water scheme. Fadnavis had said that other options should be studied, including the Sulkud scheme. Instructions were also given to strengthen the water supply scheme of Panchganga and Krishna rivers. It was suggested that a plan should be implemented by which water can be stored at the time of floods and then used when needed.
In the same meeting, deputy chief minister Shinde suggested taking water from Mhaisal dam and Shirti scheme. Five options, including the Sulkud water scheme, were discussed along with the plan. Shinde suggested that a detailed technical report of the scheme should be submitted on all aspects — which scheme is tolerable, its cost, minimum difficulties, water available through it, its regular quantity, etc.
Accordingly, a technical committee meeting was held at the district collectorate on Thursday evening. District collector Amol Yedge said, "More meetings will be held on this issue. The report given by the technical committee will be submitted to chief minister Fadnavis."
Commissioner of Ichalkaranji Pallavi Patil, executive engineer of water resources department Abhijit Mhetre, executive engineer Smita Mane, assistant commissioner of municipal administration Nagendra Mutkekar, and officials of various other departments were present on the occasion.