State giving impetus to irrigation projects, says Siddaramaiah

Govt has spent Rs 82,000 crore on irrigation in four years: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government is giving impetus to irrigation projects and that 1.25 lakh farm ponds have been built in the state.

After launching the Purigali lift irrigation project, upgradation of Hebbala Chennaiah Canal, Hebbani power station and other works executed at a cost of Rs 1,086 crore in the taluk on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said, “1.25 lakh agricultural ponds have been constructed at a cost of Rs 800 crore across the state. The government has fulfilled 95% of the165 promises made in the poll manifesto.”

While the BJP government had spent Rs 21,000 crore for irrigation during its tenure, the Congress government has spent Rs 82,000 crore. Hence, the BJP has no moral right to speak about people belonging to backward communities and Dalits, he said.

The BJP leaders were claiming that the outcome of the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls will be a pointer for the 2018 elections. Now, the results have hinted that the party will not win the 2018 elections at any cost. So, the Congress will come to power again, he said.

In the history of Malavalli Assembly constituency, this is the first time that the development works at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore has been implemented. MLA Narendraswamy is the reason behind this. He has proved that he can serve the people effectively as MLA, he added.

Hydel project
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said, there are plans to begin a 200 MW hydel project at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore at Shivanasamudra (Bluff).

Minor Irrigation Minister T B Jayachandra said, steps are being taken for the construction of a dam at Mekedatu to save surplus Cauvery river water at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore. Water Resources Minister M B Patil said, the Congress government has spent Rs 282 crore for filling lakes as the state faced drought.

Ministers M Krishnappa, Eshwara Khandre and MLC Byrathi Suresh were present.

Protest greets CM
Earlier, a group of BJP workers led by the party’s slum dwellers’ morcha state secretary, staged a protest and waved black flags to Siddaramaiah’s cavalcade when the CM was on his way to Shanti College grounds in the town to lay foundation for various works in the taluk.

The agitating BJP workers shouted slogans against the CM and demanded waiver of agrarian loans.