Karnataka - Raichur   

Funds from external sources for TLBC improvement

By Our Staff Correspondent

RAICHUR, FEB. 1. The Minister for Water Resources and Transport, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, has said that the Government has plans to raise funds from external sources to implement the comprehensive improvement of the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC).

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone on Tuesday, Mr. Kharge said that there has been a demand from farmers of Raichur and Koppal districts to take up the overall improvement of the canal, which irrigates about six lakh acres in four taluks in these districts.

In this regard, the Government has constituted an expert committee, headed by K.C. Reddy, to conduct a survey to identify the weak portions of the canal and find a permanent solution to strengthen the entire canal, he said.

Weak points

He said that even after repairing certain stretches the canal continues to be vulnerable at certain points. Mr. Kharge said that the committee was supposed to inspect the canal in second week of January and submit its report to the Government within fifteen days.

He said that the Government proposed to take up repair work in the canal during the closure period in summer. He said that the Government has proposed to borrow funds from external sources and has asked a Japanese engineering firm to extend financial assistance to implement the project.

Recently, a team of representatives from the firm inspected some of the irrigation projects in the State, including the Upper Bhadra and Upper Krishna Projects. The firm has agreed to extend technical and financial assistance to improve irrigation systems in some of the projects in the State.

Indefinite dharna

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has decided to stage an indefinite dharna from March 11 to protest against the Government's "disregard" for improving irrigation projects in Raichur district.

In a statement here on Tuesday, Chamarasa Malipatil, General Secretary of the sangha, said that the Government failed to implement the pending comprehensive improvement of the TLBC and complete the works on the Narayanapura Right Bank Canal.

He said the sangha will take out a padayatra in the first week of March from the various taluks and reach Raichur on March 11 to stage the dharna. He said the sangha will forward a notice to the Government on each day of the dharna highlighting the problems of the farmers.

The dharna will continue till the Government agrees to concede their demand, he said.

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Funds from external sources for TLBC improvement

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