Vented dam at Senapura GP to introduce SWED: Minister

Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj S Tangadagi has said that a vented dam in Senapura gram panchayat would be taken as a pilot project to introduce SWED (salt water exclusion dam) enabling automatic technology to check the intrusion of salt water to the river water.

Speaking to media persons on his arrival at the temple town after visiting Senapura in Kundapur on Wednesday, the minister said the project is taken up at a cost of Rs 12 crore. The salt water intrusion into the river is checked using wooden logs.

If the SWED technology proves to be successful, all the three districts in coastal districts would be ensured with the new technology. There are 70 vented dams across the State including seven large dams. The technology of SWED incorporates Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP).

He said the government has released Rs one crore each for 184 assembly constituencies to develop lakes. Measures would be taken for the upgradation and beautification of one lake in each assembly constituency.

He added that vented dams and check dams would be built wherever the water source is found in abundance. As many as 12 bridges across barrages would be built at a cost of Rs 5.60 crore. He said three-flood protection walls are built at the cost of Rs 1.98 crore in State.

The minister said Rs 25 lakh is released to dig bore wells and open wells for the people belonging to SC community, while Rs 96 lakh is released to build open wells and bore wells to ST community beneficiaries.

He added that under NABARD scheme, Udupi has received Rs 1.10 crore, Kaup has received Rs 2 crore, Byndoor has received Rs 2 crore and Karkala has received Rs 1.20 crore. He said the funds released under NABARD will be utilised to construct bridges, vented dams and work should be completed by March.

The minister said the series of check dams would be constructed in five districts at a cost of Rs 380 crore. The water resources and natural valleys would be utilised. The project is taken up at Kolar, Koppal, Gadag, Chikballapur and Vijapura to increase ground water table. The detailed project report (DPR) is prepared and tender process will be initiated shortly.

Solar powered IP sets

Later in Mangaluru, the Minister said that the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities will get solar-powered irrigation pump sets for borewells.

Pilot projects have already been initiated to 1,845 borewells in the state. Looking at its success, it will be extended to the entire state.

Water from Yetthinahole will be used for filling 528 water bodies in several districts. The first phase of the tender process has been finalised.