Southern States
-
Karnataka
Govt. to harness west-flowing rivers
By Our Special Correspondent
BANGALORE, JAN. 21. A project for construction of works across the west-flowing rivers in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada will be taken up by the Government next year to irrigate 24,000 hectares of land besides providing drinking water to some urban and rural areas.
The number of works to be taken up under the project, called the ``Paschima Vahini,'' will be 907. This was stated by the Governor, V. S. Rama Devi, in her address to the joint session of the legislature on Monday.
Referring to the State's water policy, the Governor said it aimed at creating an ultimate irrigation potential of 45 lakh hectares under major, medium and minor projects. In addition, a potential of 16 lakh hectares will be irrigated by using groundwater.
The policy had in mind the need to provide drinking water to rural and urban areas, and aimed at improving productivity of irrigated lands by involving users in the management of irrigation.
The address mentioned about the completion of several ``lingering'' major and medium irrigation projects, and noted that some of them such as the Harinala in Belgaum District, Hirehalla and Maskinala in Raichur District, Yagachi in Hassan District, Lower Mullamari in Gulbarga District and Somwarpet Lift Irrigation scheme in Kodagu District were completed this year.
With the acceleration of works executed by the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. and the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited, the former would have created irrigation potential of 1.06 lakh hectares and the latter about 25,000 hectares during 2001-02 which was double the potential created last year.
The scope of the Hipparagi Project and the Singatalur Lift Irrigation Scheme had been enhanced. The construction of barrages across the Bhima had also commenced.
According to a decision taken by the Government, water supplied for drinking purposes to the urban local bodies from irrigation canals, natural nalas and rivers would be exempted from payment of royalty to the Water Resources Department.
As regards minor irrigation, it was stated that an ambitious programme to improve irrigation tanks over the next five years under the Jala Samvardhana Yojane Sangha had been prepared and the World Bank had been approached to fund the Rs. 995-crore project. The scheme will focus on participatory irrigation management.
The ``Raitha Kayak Kere'' programme had been launched for rejuvenating one tank in every hobli. The thrust of the scheme was on holistic restoration including treatment of catchment and command areas.
Power: Presenting a grim picture on the power front, the address said that poor precipitation in the catchment areas had resulted in 40 per cent reduced water storage in the major hydel reservoirs this year. The resultant decrease in hydel power generation had to be met by procuring power from independent power producers and other costlier sources.
Though the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL) managed to maintain the daily power supply at last year's level, the situation was likely to become more difficult in the coming months. It had caused heavier financial burden on the Government which had to provide Rs. 2,300 crore this year to support and subsidise the KPTCL.
International Airport: The Bangalore International Airport Project would help establish Bangalore as a hub for both the passenger and goods traffic and contribute to the economy of the State. The airport would be operational within three years.
The Governor spoke of the proposal to develop cost- effective air infrastructure at a number of locations in the State to facilitate operation of feeder services. The policy framework for this would be spelt out next year.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Southern States
|
