Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that all irrigation works under Cauvery catchment area would be completed within two years.

Speaking at a programme, after launching modernisation work of Chikkadevaraya Sagar Canal, organised by Cauvery Neeravari Nigam, at Kyathanahalli in Pandavapura taluk on Friday, he said works at an estimated cost of Rs 7,345 crore were under way under Cauvery, Hemavathy, Harangi, and Kabini reservoirs. The chief minister pointed out that out of Rs 50,000 crore funds he had assured for five years, he has released Rs 33,000 crore. He assured to release the remaining Rs 27,000 crore by the turn of his tenure.

As the ground water level has depleted, the government has chalked out plans to fill lakes at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore. At least Rs 1.20 lakh crore is required to complete all irrigation works in the State. If voted to power again, steps will be taken to complete all the projects, he said.

About 375 km of canals under KRS Dam has been already upgraded at a cost of Rs 500 crore. The upgrading of another 450 km of canals has been taken up at a cost of Rs 340 crore. About 1,300 km of the canals will be modernised in the next two years, he assured.

Minister for Water Resources M B Patil said 500 cusec of water was being released in the Chikkadevaraya Sagar Canal. After completion of the works, 900 cusec of water will be released, which will benefit the farmers of the tail-end villages.

District In-charge Minister Ambareesh said, a financial aid of Rs 20 crore has been provided to MySugar and PSSK factories. He added that the SC Colony is being developed and Rs 112 crore has been released.

MLA K S Puttannaiah, MP C S Puttaraju, MLA P M Narendraswamy, and MLC Appaji Gowda were present.