Karnataka - Bangalore

White Paper on irrigation projects soon: Eshwarappa

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Government will publish a White Paper on all irrigation projects launched since 1969 and their current status. The paper will incorporate all details, including officials and contractors involved, Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa has said.

Replying to M.P. Nadagouda (JD-U) in the Legislative Council during Question Hour on Friday, the Minister said there was a need to discuss all the irrigation projects in detail in the light of their continuing financial problems and tardy progress.

Mr. Eshwarappa said he was pained to note that a project launched in 1969 at an estimated outlay of Rs. 7 crore remained incomplete, and the estimate had gone up to Rs. 400 crore.

When he took charge as Minister for Water Resources, he was shocked to learn that 39 projects remained incomplete though they were launched 25 years ago. Thirty-five of them could be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1020 crore, Mr. Eshwarappa said.

Giving details of breaches in canals, he said there had been 209 breaches in nine projects. The Government had to spend over Rs. 276 crore to get the breaches repaired, he said.

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