BJP MP Govind M Karjol.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Chitradurga BJP MP Govind Karjol has urged the Centre to sanction funds to take up the Upper Bhadra project.
In the Union Budget 2023-24, Centre had announced Rs 5,300 crore grants to take up a drip irrigation project under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). "However, the fund has not been released so far. Early release of funds would help to take up agriculture activities in the perennial drought hit areas of Chitradurga region," he said.
Participating in a discussion on demand for grants for the Jal Shakti Ministry in Lok Sabha, he said that being the most backward area, Chitradurga always faces severe drinking water crises. Implementing this project would also help in increasing the ground water table in the region, he said.
"Even the ground water in the region contains severe fluoride contents and the same has caused severe health issues to people," he said.
The Upper Bhadra project has been pending to take off for the past five decades and it was planned to irrigate 2.25 lakh hectare areas spreading four districts-Chitradurga, Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru and Davangere. The scheme also proposes to fill up more than 350 tanks in the drought hit area, he explained.
The investment advisory committee of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti also approved the investment clearance for the project and a high power steering committee has recommended the Ministry of Finance to include the project in the national project, he said.