Mon Jan 20 13:13:12 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Cracks Down on Illegal Water Usage with Amended Irrigation Act
**Mysuru, January 20, 2025** – The Karnataka Water Resources Department held a workshop today to educate officials on the newly amended Karnataka Irrigation Act of 2024, aimed at curbing illegal water diversion. The amendment, which will take effect within two weeks, strengthens the 1965 Act by providing officials with the legal authority to prevent unauthorized tapping of water from canals, rivers, and lakes.
The initiative follows observations by Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar during a tour of north Karnataka, where widespread illegal water siphoning was discovered. Lack of legal power to address this prompted the amendment, which was drafted in consultation with 14 other departments and approved by the state Assembly and Governor.
The amended Act introduces stricter regulations, including mandatory permission for borewell drilling, groundwater tapping, and water storage within 500 meters of canals. The workshop focused on explaining the Act’s provisions to department officials, ensuring they can effectively enforce the new rules and prevent irregularities that disadvantage farmers in tail-end regions. Senior officials from various departments participated in the workshop, addressing legal and technical questions.
First Piper 