10 irrigation projects to be commissioned soon

By M. Madan Mohan

HUBLI, AUG. 17. Ten irrigation projects are to be commissioned to mark the completion of two years of the Congress rule in the State.

The Water Resources Minister, Mr. H. K. Patil, told The Hindu here on Friday that work had been speeded up to commission the Hirehalla, Maskinala, Lower Mullamari, Amarja, Bandorinala, and Harinala projects and the Somwarpet Lift Irrigation Project, the Periyapatna Lift Irrigation Project and the Ghataprabha Right Bank Canal Project. He said work had been expedited to release water into the Alamatti Left Bank Canal.

Mr. Patil said that this would be a testimony to the commitment of the Congress Government. It showed the seriousness with which the Government had gone about in redeeming its promises made to the people. The irrigation works had got a new dimension under the regime of Mr. S. M. Krishna. Works on the ongoing projects had been speeded up and difficulties removed to facilitate their faster implementation.

Besides, the 164-km. canal under the Upper Tunga Project was getting ready and the work on the Ghataprabha Right Bank Canal was going on at a ``frenetic pace.'' He said that when the Congress Government assumed office in the State nearly two years ago, hardly any spade work had been done on the Right Bank Canal. This Government not only got the survey done but also took steps to get the estimates prepared, called for tenders and awarded the work.

Under the Karanja Project, survey work for 42-km. of the canal length had been done and estimates were being prepared, he said and added that tenders would be called for shortly.

Under the Narayanpur Right Bank Canal, the work had been completed from the 18th km. to the 50th km., and the Government desired to carry it further if possible. Under the Narayanpur Left Bank Canal, he said work was nearing completion in the Jewargi Branch Canal.

Mr. Patil said forest clearance was awaited for the Upper Krishna Project which had been cleared upto Phase III of the Stage I and Stage II schemes. Clearance from the Central Water Commission was awaited for Markandeya and Hipparigi projects, he added.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Nafees loses Medical Education, gets S&T
Next     : BMP's plan on old buildings yet to take off