Karnataka govt approves Cauvery Stage VI project, to benefit 30 lakh people

Bengaluru: Karnataka govt Thursday approved Cauvery Stage VI project, which will supply drinking water to Kempegowda Layout, Shivarama Karanth Layout and eight urban local bodies on the outskirts of Bengaluru in the coming years.The nearly Rs 7,000-crore project will benefit 30 lakh people in the newly formed BDA layouts and ULBs.
Madanayakanahalli, Chikkabanavara, Hunasemaranahalli, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Devanahalli, Bashettihalli, and Vijayapura are among the ULBs that will receive Cauvery water under the project.The project will require 130 acres of land worth Rs 1,800 crore and has to raise funds from World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and others. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) prepared the project report and submitted it to the govt in 2025.The nod comes four months after BWSSB inaugurated Cauvery Stage V project, which brought 775 MLD of water to Bengaluru.Key bills lack details, deferred:The cabinet discussed Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) Bill, 2026, and Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026. It decided to seek more details from the home department and deferred the bills.Other important decisions* Govt will establish Gruhalakshmi cooperative associations* District in-charge ministers authorised to select beneficiaries for social welfare schemes if MLA-headed committees fail to do so in time* To build 100-bed taluk-level hospital at a cost of Rs 41 crore in Malur, Kolar district* To establish computer labs in 854 high schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya schools at a cost of Rs 44 crore