BANGALORE: Rural Development and Panchayatraj Minister Basavaraj Horatti said on Thursday that the Revenue Department has agreed to meet the expenses of installing telemetry rain gauging meters at gram panchayat offices for monitoring the rainfall in the respective areas.

Mr. Horatti, who holds the portfolio of Science and Technology, told presspersons that the Government wanted to install rain-gauging meters in 5,600 gram panchayat offices. The Revenue Department has agreed to provide Rs. 3 crores for the purpose.

Quality tests

Meanwhile, gauges have been installed at all the 27 district headquarters.

The new meters will be purchased after testing their performance.

The Minister said the new arrangement has been gaining popularity and Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have shown interest in the instruments.

They are seeking assistance from the State Government.

He said that while the cost of the meter is more than Rs. 1 lakh outside the State, it has been manufactured locally at a cost of Rs. 16,000 per unit.

The departments concerned are engaged in working out the modalities as to who should maintain the instruments.

He said that Rs. 18 crores is needed for installing radar and another Rs. 30 crores for system installation.

Mr. Horatti said the Karnataka Science and Technology Academy, which he inaugurated on Thursday, will be asked to advise the Government on measures to take up rainwater harvesting, implementing the swachcha grama programme and sulabha shouchalayas in rural areas.

Under the sanitation campaign, he said, the academy will assist in maintaining toilets on scientific lines such judicious use of water and proper designing. He said that rainwater-harvesting facility will be linked to the sulabh shouchalayas, if necessary.

Check dams

V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary to the State Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayatraj, said that check dams and arch dams at low cost will be built.

He said that the services of the Karnataka Remote Sensing Agency will be utilised.

The Minister said that the feasibility of implementing the work will be discussed and decided by the Cabinet.

The recommendations of the U.R. Rao Committee on Science and Technology will be placed before the Cabinet for its approval, he added.

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