Amid opposition to drawing water from Hidkal Dam, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil on Monday clarified that drawing water from the dam is proposed to support upcoming beverages industries at the Belur Industrial Area in Dharwad.
Speaking to presspersons in Dharwad on Monday, Mr. Patil said that of the total storage capacity of 51 tmcft of water at the dam, 4 tmcft of water has been earmarked for industrial use.
“Out of this, only 0.5 tmcft has been requested to meet the water requirement of beverages companies that signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the Global Investors Meet (GIM),” he said.
Mr. Patil mentioned that among the key investors, Ceylon Beverages, owned by Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan, has already commenced construction of its plant in Dharwad and Campa, owned by Reliance Jio, has also proposed to set up a beverages manufacturing unit in the region.
As water is a crucial requirement for the beverages industries and as Dharwad did not have a major river, the proposal to draw water from Hidkal Dam has been considered a practical solution, he said.
The Minister expressed the confidence that residents of Belagavi district will understand the importance of industrial development in the region and will not oppose it.
Published – June 02, 2025 08:09 pm IST
