Belagavi: Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar has sought Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ intervention to speed up the proposed Tilari–Rakaskop water link project, which aims to divert surplus water from Maharashtra’s Tilari reservoir to Karnataka’s Rakaskop reservoir through the Markandeya River.
Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/shettar-seeks-maha-cms-help-to-fast-track-tilari-rakaskop-water-link-project/articleshow/132810515.cms
In a letter to Fadnavis, Shettar requested the Maharashtra government to take necessary steps to facilitate the project under the national river-linking programme. The appeal follows representations made by former Belagavi mayor and farmer leader Shivaji Sunthkar.
Shettar said the project would provide a long-term solution to Belagavi’s recurring summer drinking water shortages by increasing inflows into the Rakaskop reservoir. He also highlighted its potential to improve irrigation and support agriculture in villages along the Karnataka–Maharashtra border.
The proposal has received support from farmer organisations, including the Markandeya Shetkari Sanghatana, which has launched a public awareness campaign highlighting the project’s benefits. Supporters say the water link would enhance year-round water availability, expand irrigation coverage, and strengthen water security for both Belagavi and Maharashtra’s Chandgad taluk.
If implemented, the project is expected to benefit several villages in Chandgad taluk of Maharashtra and the Markandeya basin in Karnataka, while improving drinking water supply and agricultural productivity across the border region.
Read also : Rakaskop Reservoir Reaches Full Capacity, Secures Belagavi’s Drinking Water Supply
