Date:16/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/16/stories/2008081651120300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Irrigation facility for 73,000 hectares more

Staff Correspondent

Steps will be taken to use State’s share of Krishna and Cauvery waters: Bommai

Guard of honour: Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai at the Independence Day celebrations in Belgaum on Friday.

Belgaum: The State Government has plans to bring 73,000 hectares of land more under irrigation in the Krishna, Cauvery and other river basins in the State during the current financial year, said Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for Water Resources.

He was addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the district stadium here on Friday.

He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party Government would take steps to utilise the State’s share of Krishna and Cauvery waters.

Priority

Referring to the budgetary provisions for the current financial year, he said that the BJP Government had accorded priority to mitigate problems confronted by various sections of society, particularly farmers and the poor.

He said that 1000 MW of electricity would be added to the State’s grid during the current financial year. The Government had taken steps to increase electricity generation from 5000 MW to 10,000 MW.

The Government had plans to build 4,000 km of roads in rural areas.

It had provided Rs. 50 crore to each of the seven cities, including Belgaum, for their development during the current financial year, the Minister said.

Drinking water

A sum of Rs. 900 crore had been provided towards supplying clean drinking water, the Minister said.

Freedom fighters were felicitated by Prashanta Budavi, Mayor; Prabhkar B. Kore, MP; Suresh C. Angadi, MP; Abhay Kumar Patil, MLA; Sanjay Patil, MLA; and Nazir Ahmed Nadaf, zilla panchayat president.

Deputy Commissioner G. Ravishankar, Inspector General of Police Raghavendra Auradkar, Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang and senior officials from various departments were present.