Paschimavahini project cleared, coastal districts to benefit

36 community associations to get land in Bengaluru

With an eye on the coming Assembly elections, the state Cabinet on Monday cleared a slew of projects, including Paschimavahini project that proposes to meet the drinking water need of the three coastal districts, besides showering largess on 36 community associations by granting them a total of 58.2 acres for constructing educational institutions near Bengaluru.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the Paschimavahini project proposes to build checkdams across the west-flowing rivers to meet the drinking water needs of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The entire project is estimated to cost Rs 1,394 crore, of which Rs 200 crore for the first phase was approved by the Cabinet.

It will meet the drinking water need of 19 Assembly constituencies in the three districts especially between January-April every year. As many as 104 vented dams have been proposed in the first stage.

Jayachandra said the project will also serve as a compensation to the people of the coastal districts who apprehend that the Yettinahole project will divert their share of water to the districts of Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur and Kolar. Talk about the project has been doing the rounds for a decade along with another idea of linking the rivers in the coastal belt.

For community associations

The Cabinet gave its approval for granting 58.2 acres to 36 community associations for constructing educational institutions in Machohalli village, Dasanapura hobli in Bengaluru Urban district. The Cabinet decision comes even as the Forest department has been opposing parting with the land stating it is forest land.

The associations include Rajya Kuruveera Shetti Sangha, Rajya Vishwakarma Samaja, Upparara Sangha, Thigalara Sangha, Helava Jananga Sangha, Gangamastha Sangha, Hindu Sadakara Welfare Association, Devanga Sangha, Padmashali Sangha, Vishala Educational Social Trust, State Revenue Department Employees' Association; Hatayogi Koppala Swami Seva Trust, Anrunachetana Disability School, Rajya Jyothi Pana Ganigara Sangha, Kumbarara Sangha, Devadigara Sangha, Valmiki-Nayaka Mahasangha, Kaginele Mahasamsthana Math, Karnataka Backward Classes Federation, Kurubara Sangha, Savitha Samaja, Yadavara Sangha and Dombidasara Sangha.

KSHIP-3

In another decision, the Cabinet gave its administrative approval for developing 418 kms of state highways at a cost of Rs 5,334 crore under Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (KSHIP-3).

Besides, Rs 36.8 crore for developing road connecting Shravanabelagola as preparation for the Mahamastabhikesha next year was cleared.

Power subsidy

The budgetary requirement of Rs 12,553 crore for the year 2018-19 as power subsidy to escoms to meet the expenses for providing free power to irrigation pumpsets of farmers and Kutirajyothi installations was cleared by the Cabinet.

A Urban Waste Water Re-use Policy that proposes to extend the present scheme of recycling waste water generating in Bengaluru to fill tanks in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Anekal, to the entire state was approved by the Cabinet, Jayachandra said.