Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar denies involvement in diversion of water from Hidkal dam to Dharwad

Karnataka’s Minister of Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar denied as baseless allegations that she had influenced the ministers concerned to divert water from Hidkal to Dharwad to cater to the needs of the sugar factory of her son. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karnataka’s Minister of Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar has denied that she was behind diversion of Ghataprabha river water from Hidkal in Belagavi to the industrial area in Dharwad.

“I have no connection whatsoever with that scheme. In fact, I did not even know that water was being diverted from Hidkal to Dharwad. I can not be blamed for this. I have nothing to say about this,” she told reporters in Belagavi.

She denied as baseless allegations that she had influenced the ministers concerned to divert water from Hidkal to Dharwad to cater to the needs of the sugar factory of her son (Mrunal Hebbalkar) in Dharwad.

“My family’s sugarcane factory has enough water. We have a stream flowing nearby. I have drilled 15 borewells in the vicinity. Each borewell yielded 3-5 inches of water. We do not need external water supply,” she said.

Asked why she was not opposing the diversion of water from Hidkal to Dharwad, she claimed not having proper information about the scheme to have any opinion about the issue. ”However, let me make it very clear that I will never do anything that is detrimental to the interests of Belagavi district,” she said.

Former Minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi told reporters in Athani that he would strongly oppose any diversion of water from Hidkal to Dharwad. “M. B. Patil, Minister for Industries, has said that they are providing water to industries as it is the primary duty of the government to facilitate industrial investment. I have a very simple question for him: Why not facilitate industries in Belagavi where there is water? If not, why not ask the industries in Dharwad to utilise local water sources? There is enough water there,” he said.

The former irrigation minister said that he would contact the Chief Minster and convince him to drop the idea. “I have credible information to show that over 60 tmcft of water is available near Dharwad. That should be used for industries, and not water from Hidkal dam which is meant for agriculture,” Mr. Jarkiholi said.

Published - June 03, 2025 03:32 pm IST