District in-charge Minister S A Ravindranath has warned stringent action against those who have still not removed the illegal pumpsets from the Bhadra canal.
He was addressing the media persons after inspecting the Rs 2.70 crore lake rejuvenation works being undertaken by the Minor Irrigation department at Honnuru, Kodaganooru, Mayakonda, Huchhavanahalli coming under the Mayakonda assembly constituency in Davangere taluk.
The work on the modernisation of the second stage of Bhadra canal will begin in the first week of June and the Rs 500 crore work will go on till December. By then the illegal pumpsets will be completely cut off. From January if some people still have illegal pumpsets then he would personally lead an agitation against them and stringent action will be taken, said Mr Ravindranath.
No water
It has not been possible to release water to the Davangere, Harihara and Harapnahalli farmers’ 40,000 acres of land since the last 40 years. After the first stage of modernisation it has been possible to release water to 10,000 acres of land, he said.
It is not possible to pay Kerala type subsidy for paddy. The percentage of growers in Kerala is very less. But in Karnataka paddy is grown in very high quantity, he said.
Survey completed
The survey work for the lift irrigation scheme to fill Tungabhadra water into 19 lakes had been completed. Within the next two months, the work will begin, he said.
The Minor Irrigation department had taken up the rejuvenation of five lakes. The cost of rejuvenating the Honnuru lake is Rs 60 lakh, Kodaganooru lake Rs 80 lakh, Mayakonda lake Rs 40 lakh, Huchhavvanahalli Rs 60 lakh and Nalkuda lake Rs 30 lakh, he said.
The Kodaganooru lake bank which runs very close to Mandya-Hovinahadagali State highway is very narrow and it is known as an accident spot.
Hence the road is being widened to a width of 12.5 meters, he said.
Satisfied with the progress of work, Ravindranath said the works would be completed in another two months.
Executive engineer Govindappa, assistant executive engineer Sevyanayak and others were present.
