Irrigation gains primacy with a bumper allocation

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has allocated a whopping Rs 17,212 crore to the Water Resources department for the implementation of various ongoing major and minor irrigation projects.

In 2018-19, Kumaraswamy had allocated Rs 15,993 crore to this sector. Of this, the government has so far spent Rs 9,299.81 crore, with irrigation facilities being provided to 28,805 acres, he claimed.

Kumaraswamy has set aside Rs 1,680 crore for taking up as many as 22 tank-filling projects across the state. He has also provided Rs 860 crore for canal modernisation works; Rs 445 crore for comprehensive development of nearly 10 major tanks; Rs 477 crore for various irrigation projects; Rs 160 crore for bridge and barrage construction; Rs 506 crore for comprehensive infrastructure development works in the limits of major and medium irrigation projects.

The chief minister has also proposed to take up 10 lift irrigation schemes at a cost of Rs 1,563 crore. He has allocated Rs 300 crore to Kerur project, Rs 200 crore to Nandavadagi project, Rs 210 crore for Koppal project; Rs 250 crore for Horthi-Revannasiddeshwara project; Rs 75 crore to irrigate 6,000 acres in the limits of Kampli; Rs 50 crore for Siddapura-Soukuru project; Rs 200 crore for Udugani-Thalagunda Hosuru project; Rs 100 crore for third stage of Kachenahalli project; Rs 54 crore for construction of canal under Ontigudda scheme; Rs 75 crore to irrigate lands of Basavakalyana and Bhalki taluks; Rs 40 crore for Ennehole project and Rs 9 crore for Bakarihalla-Kadahinabailu project.

He also said that the work of laying of pipeline for utilising 40 MLD water being carried to Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board under KC Valley project will be taken up at a cost of Rs 40 crore. While the tank filling works in the limits of Balaghatta Gram Panchayat of Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district will be taken up at a cost of Rs 100 crore, improvement works of all tanks in Bidar district will be taken up in a phased manner in the next three years at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

A grant of Rs 13 crore has been provided for tank-filling works of eight tanks of Bikkonahally, Kommanalu Abbalagere, Biranakere, Kunchenahally, Kallapura Villages through lift irrigation from Tunga river flowing near Hole Hasanavadi village in Shivamogga district.

Kallamardi lift irrigation scheme for 2,500 acres of land of Koujalagi, Gosabala and neighbouring villages of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district will be implemented in the current year, he added. To improve underground water in taluks where over-utilisation of water has taken place, and groundwater has severely dipped, check dams, barrages, bandars and recharge shafts will be constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore through Directorate of Groundwater.

Kumaraswamy also said that his government had achieved an important milestone by getting the Central Water Commission to give its consent for preparation of a detailed project report for Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project.

“The detailed report has been prepared and submitted. This is an important milestone. We believe that this will not only facilitate more effective usage of Cauvery water, but also help farmers of both the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,” he said.

He also said that the works of Yettinahole comprehensive drinking water project providing drinking water to drought-prone districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Hassan had been accelerated.

“Works of Upper Bhadra Project have gained pace, while tenders have been approved for laying SCADA automation and GIS system under the Narayanapura left bank canal of Krishna Upper project at a cost of Rs 1,050 crore,” he added.