Yettinahole Drinking Water Project
🔹 Announcement:
- CM Siddaramaiah announced that the Yettinahole project will be completed in 2 years.
- Will benefit 75 lakh people across 9 districts.
🔹 Key Facts:
- Project Start: 2014
- Revised Cost: ₹23,251 crore
- Cost escalation: ₹2,000 crore (mainly due to land acquisition)
🔹 Water Allocation:
- Total water required: 24.1 tmcft
- Drinking water use: 14 tmcft
- Additional supply:
- Lakkavalli Reservoir – 1.88 tmcft
- Vadeyarahalli Reservoir – 1.2 tmcft
🔹 Districts Benefited (initial phase):
- Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Hassan
🔹 Project Status:
- Headwork completed – ₹4,202 crore
- Gravity main canal – 85% done (₹8,807 crore spent)
- Feeder works – 96% complete
🔹 Future Additions:
- Balancing Reservoir capacity to be increased from 89 tmcft to 3 tmcft
Proposed location: Tumakuru-Chikkaballapur border
Slow Progress of PM Surya Ghar Scheme in Karnataka
🔹 About the Scheme
- Launched by: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India
- Objective: Promote rooftop solar installations in households by providing subsidies.
🔹 Current Status in Karnataka (As of 2025)
- Total Installations: Only 10,022 – lowest in South India
- Kerala: 80,856
- Tamil Nadu: 29,211
- Andhra Pradesh: 16,556
- Telangana: 13,677
- Applications Received: 2,21,273 (across 5 Escoms)
- Highest Installations: BESCOM (4,245)
- Lowest: GESCOM (539)
🔹 Reasons for Slow Progress
1. Misunderstanding of Scheme
- Many believed it was a fully free solar panel scheme.
- Assumption: No cost installation + income from surplus power sales.
2. Gruha Jyothi Scheme (State Scheme)
- Offers free electricity for up to 200 units/month.
- Consumers see no financial incentive to install solar systems.
3. Loan & Vendor Issues
- To avail subsidy, loans are needed – people are hesitant.
- Vendor selection process complicated; many dropped out.
🔹 Steps Taken / Suggestions
- Target Households Using >200 Units: More likely to benefit.
Gross Metering Push: Sell power directly to grid (instead of net metering).
Renaming of Four Places – Major Cabinet Decisions
Another District Renamed in Karnataka
Following the renaming of Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South District, the Karnataka government has now renamed:
- Bengaluru Rural District as Bengaluru North District
- Bagepalli town as Bhagyanagara
This decision was made during a special cabinet meeting held at Nandi Hills (Nandibetta).
Cabinet Decisions at Nandibetta
Despite strong opposition from political parties, the Cabinet approved the proposal to rename Bengaluru City University after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
- The university will now be known as:
“Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University” - Additionally, the Kalasipalya Bus Stand will be renamed as:
“Janopakari Sri Doddanna Shettar Kalasipalya Bus Stand”
₹3,500 Crore Gain?
During discussions on renaming Bengaluru Rural District, it was noted that:
- The central government provides separate grants for urban and rural districts.
- By renaming it Bengaluru North, the state could become eligible for an additional ₹3,500 crore grant.
- This proposal was reportedly unanimously approved by the Cabinet members.
₹3,400 Crore Boost for Education, Health & Irrigation
In a major boost to the Bengaluru region, the Cabinet approved projects worth:
- ₹3,400 crore, including
₹2,050 crore for specific regional works
