Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070450640200.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Survey to be taken up to raise height of Janawada Barrage

M.B. Girish

Bangalore-based private consultant given the work

MEETING PEOPLE’S NEEDS: The storage capacity of the Janawada Barrage in Bidar will be enhanced.

BIDAR: To increase water storage in the Janawada Barrage in Bidar taluk, a private consultant has been asked to conduct a survey on the technical feasibility of raising the height of the barrage.

Senior officials of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB), Bidar, told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity that officials of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL), Gulbarga, had recommend that the height of the Janawada Barrage built across the Manjara river be raised.

The barrage is about two kilometres away from Janawada village.

Whenever Bidar city experienced water shortage owing to inadequate rainfall, the authorities of the KUWS&DB would ask officials of the Karanja Reservoir to release water into the Manjara river to store water at the Janawada Barrage, the officials said.

As the Janawada Barrage was the main source of drinking water for residents of Bidar city, the officials of KNNL had recommended that the KUWS&DB authorities raise the height of the barrage to enhance storage. They said that the water available at the Janawada Barrage could help meet the drinking water requirements of Bidar city in times of water shortage at the Karanja Reservoir.

The officials said that Bangalore-based Civil Tech had been asked to conduct a survey and submit a report on the technical feasibility of raising the height of the Janawada Barrage.

Based on the report, the KUWS&DB would take steps to raise the height of the barrage.

Built in 2002, the Janawada Barrage can hold 208 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water.

According to another senior official, raising the barrage height by one metre has been suggested. This could help store another .2 tmcft of water.

When contacted, Yunus Basha, Executive Engineer of KUWS&DB, Bidar, said the decision to conduct a survey was taken a couple days ago and men from the private consultant are expected to visit the barrage site shortly.