Date:18/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/18/stories/2006051813040400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 56 crore to be granted for minor irrigation projects

Special Correspondent

They will cover 1.34 lakh hectares of land

Rs. 18.5 crore required for completing ongoing projects
Rs. 18 crore needed for payment of bills
700 tanks to be rejuvenated at a cost of Rs. 180 crore

State can irrigate over six lakh hectares of land under major and medium irrigation projects

BANGALORE: The Government has decided to take up minor irrigation projects in the Cauvery Basin at a cost of Rs. 56 crore this year to irrigate 1.34 lakh hectares.

The report of the Assessors' Committee on Cauvery Basin has favoured the State's demand for water for irrigating 1.34 lakh hectares of land under minor irrigation projects.

The committee has allowed irrigation of 6.07 lakh hectares under major and medium irrigation projects.

The State had claimed its right to irrigate nine lakh hectares under such projects, official sources told The Hindu here on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, reviewed projects of the Minor Irrigation Department on Wednesday, and said the Finance Department had received a proposal to develop minor irrigation at a cost of Rs. 56 crore in the Cauvery Basin. A sum of Rs. 18 crore would be required for payment of pending bills and Rs. 18.5 crore for completion of ongoing projects.

The rest of the amount would be used for maintenance.

Mr. Yediyurappa and Minister for Minor Irrigation C.M. Udasi held an hour-long meeting with officials and discussed strategies for completion of irrigation works in the Cauvery Basin. Mr. Yediyurapp said the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam would take up the projects, and asked officials of the Irrigation Department to submit a detailed report on funds required to complete ongoing projects, Mr. Yediyurappa said.

The Government has decided to rejuvenate 700 tanks at a cost of Rs. 180 crores under the Community-based Tank Management Project this year.

The Jala Samvardhane Yojana Sangha was established in 2002 as the nodal agency to implement the project. It is undertaking the rejuvenation of 2,005 tanks in nine districts with World Bank assistance.

Under the Centrally sponsored scheme, the State has received Rs. 87 crore for rejuvenation of 289 tanks in Bangalore Rural and Gulbarga districts this year.

Mr. Udasi said action would be taken against those who had encroached upon tank land and were cultivating crops.