During vacation, my grand father used to take me to my maternal uncle's house. He was an executive engineer in irrigation department. He retired as a superintending engineer. He was associated with various irrigation projects of our state. He used to stay in the government quarters at the project sites. Hence, I had the opportunity and privilege of seeing and understanding the various aspects of implementation of big irrigation projects. Hemavathy Reservoir project, Gorur is one of such projects, I have closely watched.
Gorur is in Hassan district, 25 kms away from Hassan and 5 kms from Arkalgud. Sakleshpur, being a coffee plantation area was considered as the richest taluk in Hassan district. Arsikere and Channarayapatna were famous for coconut gardens. They export coconut, copra considerably. Other taluks were considered as poor taluks, as they had no sufficient water source and other infrastructure for sustained growth of agriculture. The district is predominantly agriculture oriented as there are no major industries. Since I belonged to Sakleshpur, I was getting considerable attention from all wherever I go! Taluks like Holenarasipur, Arkalgud were growing dry crops and paddy seasonally.
When the survey commenced for construction of a dam at Gorur, there were rumours that Sakleshpur will be submerged in backwaters. Lot of sacrifices and compromises have been done by the people who were behind the proposed dam site. A good number of villages, agricultural lands, forest lands, temples have been submerged in backwaters. Those who were rendered landless were offered alternative lands and places. Most of the land losers have not opted for the lands offered by government as they were useless. A good number of land losers got petty compensation and left the place. At that time, farmers had no bargaining power and they had to settle for what the government sanctioned. A few middlemen, contractors and officialdom had a merry time. The agony and disappointment of people dislodged is beyond words and expression. Emotions of people leaving their land and place, temple, close friends and relatives are beyond imagination and cannot be explained.
The construction started and Gorur, which was a small sleepy village, grew into a medium city. All sorts of people, all sorts of entertainment, all means of communication, transport were established in Gorur. All sorts of machinery were roaring. A mechanical division was established by the department for maintenance of their vehicles and machinery. The economic scenario of Hassan slowly began to change. Land price, house rent shot up. New hotels, cinema theatres were established. Clubs and group quarrels started. Several banks opened branches in Hassan. If these were the signs of development, then yes there was development.
Finally, the dam was constructed. The Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister were personally monitoring the progress of construction. They used to see the photographs of the dam being constructed regularly. If my memories are correct, Sri Veerendra Patil was the chief minister and Sri.H.N.Nanjegowda was the irrigation minister. The dam is a marvellous engineering feat.
Sakleshpur, Alur and Belur taluks fall behind the dam and as a result are not beneficiaries of the project. All other taluks have been benefited. Hassan city got drinking water. All the benefited taluks are today flourishing. Holenarasipur and Channarayapatna have changed their cropping pattern and have included paddy(irrigated), sugarcane and other commercial crops like banana, mulberry etc to their list. People who had no voice, who were meek (humble) are very strong both politically and economically. Every house has a car or at least a motor cycle. Commercial activities are buzzing in towns. Tumkur and Mandya are the other districts benefited from the project. Drinking water was scarce in Tumkur. Now abundantly available in the entire district.
Arkalgud, the dam site's taluk head quarter is just 5 km away from the dam down stream. Surprisingly, there is no adequate drinking water in the town even after the completion of the project. A tank lying at the centre of the town is converted to a play ground and bus-stand. This tank should have been retained and refurbished so that ground water table would have increased and would have been helpful in quenching the thirst. Due to closure of tank agricultural activities surrounding it has come to an end. Gardens have been converted as sites and sold. Almost all tanks in villages have been encroached upon and destroyed. All these tanks should have been retained and refilled/revitalised by Hemavathy waters so that there would be no scarcity of water at any time. Every village should have a tank mandatorily.
There were plans to develop a garden around the dam like Brindavan Gardens in KRS. I do not know the present position. This is the live example for "anything is possible if there is a political will."
Any body may claim credit for the construction of dam. But in my view, the people who have lost their base and everything and have sacrificed for the sake of the dam are the real heros.
Sri Yoganarasimhaswamy temple is an ancient temple in Gorur. Mavinakere is near by, where there are Sri Ranganathaswamy and Lord Venkateshwara temples. Mavinakere aquaduct is another marvellous engineering feat which must be seen. A piligrim cum sight seeing trip to Gorur will be certainly rewarding.
Gorur is in Hassan district, 25 kms away from Hassan and 5 kms from Arkalgud. Sakleshpur, being a coffee plantation area was considered as the richest taluk in Hassan district. Arsikere and Channarayapatna were famous for coconut gardens. They export coconut, copra considerably. Other taluks were considered as poor taluks, as they had no sufficient water source and other infrastructure for sustained growth of agriculture. The district is predominantly agriculture oriented as there are no major industries. Since I belonged to Sakleshpur, I was getting considerable attention from all wherever I go! Taluks like Holenarasipur, Arkalgud were growing dry crops and paddy seasonally.
When the survey commenced for construction of a dam at Gorur, there were rumours that Sakleshpur will be submerged in backwaters. Lot of sacrifices and compromises have been done by the people who were behind the proposed dam site. A good number of villages, agricultural lands, forest lands, temples have been submerged in backwaters. Those who were rendered landless were offered alternative lands and places. Most of the land losers have not opted for the lands offered by government as they were useless. A good number of land losers got petty compensation and left the place. At that time, farmers had no bargaining power and they had to settle for what the government sanctioned. A few middlemen, contractors and officialdom had a merry time. The agony and disappointment of people dislodged is beyond words and expression. Emotions of people leaving their land and place, temple, close friends and relatives are beyond imagination and cannot be explained.
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| Hemavathy Dam, Gorur |
Finally, the dam was constructed. The Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister were personally monitoring the progress of construction. They used to see the photographs of the dam being constructed regularly. If my memories are correct, Sri Veerendra Patil was the chief minister and Sri.H.N.Nanjegowda was the irrigation minister. The dam is a marvellous engineering feat.
 |
| Hemavathy Back Waters |
Arkalgud, the dam site's taluk head quarter is just 5 km away from the dam down stream. Surprisingly, there is no adequate drinking water in the town even after the completion of the project. A tank lying at the centre of the town is converted to a play ground and bus-stand. This tank should have been retained and refurbished so that ground water table would have increased and would have been helpful in quenching the thirst. Due to closure of tank agricultural activities surrounding it has come to an end. Gardens have been converted as sites and sold. Almost all tanks in villages have been encroached upon and destroyed. All these tanks should have been retained and refilled/revitalised by Hemavathy waters so that there would be no scarcity of water at any time. Every village should have a tank mandatorily.
There were plans to develop a garden around the dam like Brindavan Gardens in KRS. I do not know the present position. This is the live example for "anything is possible if there is a political will."
Any body may claim credit for the construction of dam. But in my view, the people who have lost their base and everything and have sacrificed for the sake of the dam are the real heros.
Sri Yoganarasimhaswamy temple is an ancient temple in Gorur. Mavinakere is near by, where there are Sri Ranganathaswamy and Lord Venkateshwara temples. Mavinakere aquaduct is another marvellous engineering feat which must be seen. A piligrim cum sight seeing trip to Gorur will be certainly rewarding.
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