Ongoing works need over Rs. 3,000 cr.: Patil

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 15. Twelve pending medium irrigation projects, taken up on priority by the State Government in the past two years, have been completed at a cost of Rs. 2,125 crores. The projects, which will be commissioned soon, are expected to irrigate 4.1 lakh acres of land, the Minister for Water Resources, Mr. H. K. Patil, said here today.

Participating in a `meet the press' programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore, Mr. Patil said the work on some of these projects was initiated more than two decades ago. But it was not possible to complete them on time due to shortage of funds.

Some of these projects were Harinala in Belgaum District, Hirehalla in Koppal, Maskinala in Raichur, Yagachi in Hassan, Hallimysore lift irrigation, Somwarpet lift irrigation, Amarja, and Bennithora, Mr. Patil said.

The minister estimated that between Rs. 3,000 crores and Rs. 4,000 crores was required to complete 34 ongoing projects including those in the basins of the Cauvery, the Krishna, the Godavari and the Pennar, which were cleared in the past two years. These projects, which would be completed by 2005, would be financed through the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam and the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam in addition to budgetary allocations. About six lakh hectares of land was expected to be irrigated by these projects.

The extent of ``irrigable'' land in the State was 105 lakh hectares of which 55 lakh hectares could be brought under irrigation by utilising all water resources including minor irrigation and groundwater.

There was major and medium irrigation potential in respect of 35 lakh hectares of land. Against this, the potential achieved was 15 lakh hectares two years ago. Since then, three lakh hectares more had been brought under irrigation, Mr. Patil said.

He said 2,000 tmcft. of the 3,438 tmcft. of water available in the State was accounted for by west-flowing rivers, most of which terminated in the sea. Studies had been taken up on how a part of this water going waste could be utilised.

Replying to a question on the sharing of costs with Andhra Pradesh for the Hirehalla Project in Koppal District for preventing accumulation of silt in the Tungabhadra Reservoir as that State also stood to benefit from the project, Mr. Patil said since the project had been completed, it would not be fair on the part of Karnataka to take up the matter now.

Barrages across the Bheema

Mr. Patil said the survey for the construction of four barrages across the Bheema had been completed. The process was on to assign the work to an agency. The Government had given permission to construct a series of barrages across the Manjra.

Mr. Patil attributed the progress made in the field of irrigation in the State to administrative reforms which had led to accountability and transparency. He said there were plans to develop ``eco strips'' along the 1.10 lakh km. of canals and gardens at dam sites for promoting tourism.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Inter-State gang involved in fake gold dust busted
Next     : Six p.c. of children in State are labourers