Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has said that the first phase of Varahi irrigation project will be completed by May 15, wherein the work on a single canal will get finished to irrigate 2,000 hectares of land.
“Initially the project had been hampered with the issue of destruction to deemed forest. But after a fruitful discussion, the forest central committee gave clearance for 128 hectares of deemed forest land, following which the work was taken up,” Sorake told Deccan Herald.
The first canal will be utilised to supply water for 2,000 hectares of land. However, currently water from Varahi river is also used to provide drinking water to some parts in Kundapur.
The minister added that the second phase of the project will commence once the deemed forest issue is resolved. “The government is keen to take up the second phase of the work immediately. Talks are held with the forest department in connection with this. However, the completion of the entire project might take some time, as the rejuvenation programme is in the initial stage. The project has remained incomplete for the last several decades,” Sorake said.
As drinking water project
The minister said the government has also plans to utilise Varahi drinking water scheme for drinking water purposes. The initiative is already introduced on an experimental basis in Kundapur. Plans have been chalked out to extend the facilities to Saligrama in the next phase.
Further, it will be extended to Brahmavar. A sum of Rs 40 crore is released for Brahmavar for multi -village drinking water scheme. Finally, the government has also plans to extend the project to Udupi.
However, all the plans are still in the embryonic stage. The action plan to extend the Varahi water to Saligrama is given priority. A retired engineer has been approached to design plans to make it feasible to supply drinking water to Udupi. The project also includes the plan to cover the villages en-route, so that the drinking water problem is solved, minister elaborated.
The Varahi irrigation project had ushered in huge expectations among the farmers in and around Kundapur taluk during 1980s but remained paralysed since 35 years, despite an investment of a whopping Rs 500 crore for the project.
The project which received administrative approval and technical sanction on March 27, 1979 has remained defunct all through 35 years. The project was designed to irrigate 38,800 acres of land.
Besides, the original blue print comprised of the plan to generate power and simultaneously to irrigate 38,800 acres of land. Hence, it was named Varahi Hydro Electrical Project.