'Fresh tenders for Upper Bhadra project in 2 months'

Fresh tenders will be called with respect to Upper Bhadra project in another two months. Also a meeting headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be held in a week’s time to solve all grievances of the farmers, Law and Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra said.

Speaking at a meeting organised by Bhadra Neeravari Horata Samithi here on Sunday, Jayachandra said: “Money is not a constraint for the government as Rs 1,000 crore has  already been spent for various works of the project. Work has been completely stalled in 400 acres of forest land. There are legal hurdles and also clearance from environment department is yet to be obtained. A committee under the guidance of chief secretary has also been formed to clear all legal hurdles and in another two months it will be re-tendered again,” he said.

He also stated that Rs 3,500 crore would be allocated to Chitradurga and Davangere districts for irrigation and developmental works. At the proposed meeting, to be chaired by Siddaramaiah, heads of various organisations including farmers, environmentalists and government departments will be present, he added.

The farmers who were present at the meeting gheraoed Chitradurga Incharge Minister H Anjaneya. The farmers surrounded him as he was leaving the venue soon after his speech in which he had stated that the government was with the farmers.
The farmers said that if the minister had no time to listen to their woes, then how would he help them. Over 600 farmers from Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Sira and Tumkur had arrived for the meeting.