Karnataka on Tuesday petitioned the Centre for approval and funding of ₹11,122 crore for pending irrigation project works in north Karnataka that includes Tungabhadra left bank canal, Ghataprabha right bank canal, Upper Krisha Project’s Indi canal, Malaprabha canal extension, restoration, and modernisation, and Sonthi lift-irrigation project. The State has sought funding under the PMKSY-AIBP scheme.
A delegation from the State, led by Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation D.K. Shivakumar and comprising Minor Irrigation Minister Bose Raju and Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna, called on Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil in Delhi on Tuesday to press for the State’s demands.
The State has submitted proposal for the 226-km Tungabhadra left bank canal extension, restoration, and modernisation at a cost of ₹1,444.42 crore that irrigates a total area of 2.44 lakh hectares. Financial assistance of ₹1,596.98 crore has been sought for modernisation of the Ghataprabha right bank main canal for a length of 199.09 km, and 58.25 km of Chikkodi canal.
For mitigation of floods in the region between Bennihalli and Malaprabha sangam, the State has sought funds of ₹1,610 crore under the flood management and border area programme. The project for which a DPR has been submitted is to address the flood situation in the region due to rains.
The Sonthi lift-irrigation project is meant to lift water from the Sonthi barrage to pump 4 tmcft water to parched Chittapur and irrigate 16,000 hectares. While the DPR at a cost of ₹673.90 crore was submitted in 2015, the cost has now escalated to ₹804.66 crore.
For the upper Krishna project’s 172-km Indi canal that irrigates 1.31 lakh hectares in Kalaburgi, Yadgiri, and Vijayapura districts, Karnataka is seeking ₹2,666.7 crore to extend, restore, and modernise 108-km stretch. The State is expecting ₹3,000 crore for the third phase work of the Malaprabha canal.
Published – February 25, 2025 09:59 pm IST