Union Budget '23: Several areas in Karnataka will be benefited from Centre's Rs 5,300 crore assistance

Credit: DH Graphic

Poll-bound Karnataka was the only state whose name was mentioned in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget speech when she granted an aid of Rs 5,300 crore to the Upper Bhadra project.

“In the drought-prone central region of Karnataka, central assistance of Rs 5,300 crore will be given to the Upper Bhadra Project to provide sustainable micro irrigation and filling up of surface tanks for drinking water,” Sitharaman said in her Budget speech.

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The announcement comes with just three months left for the Karnataka Assembly election.

The project envisages lifting 17.40 tmcft of water in the first stage from the Tunga river to Bhadra reservoir and 29.90 tmcft of water in the second stage from Bhadra reservoir to irrigate 2.25 lakh hectares in Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davangere and Tumakuru districts apart from filling up 367 lakes.

Karnataka has been pushing for a ‘national project’ status for the Upper Bhadra Project. Last year, the Union government gave its nod for this.

Expressing happiness, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai described the project as “an important irrigation and drinking water project” in drought-prone areas.

“This is the first national project among the several irrigation projects of the state. And, it has received this huge amount because it is a national project,” Bommai said.

Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol, too, hailed the budget provision and said it would bring “prosperity” to farmers in the region.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, however, slammed the Union government for the “paltry amount” that he said would not cover more than a quarter of the project cost. “The required amount is Rs 23,000 crore. The Union government has agreed to give only one-fourth of the cost. And, if one takes out 40% commission out of this, the project will get less than Rs 3,000 crore,” he said.

“More importantly, to implement this project, the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal Award needs to be finalised, as a part of the project also falls in the Krishna river basin. Without this, the money cannot be used,” he said.

JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy said there was no clarity on when the project would be complete.

“Whatever project is announced now can be implemented only after the election. And, implementation will also depend on the next government,” he said.