Karnataka   

MP sees vast scope for investment in irrigation sector

Staff Correspondent

State urged not to waste time in completing Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion scheme

Belgaum: There is a lot of scope for investment in the irrigation sector in Belgaum district, according to the MP, Suresh C. Angadi.

The MP on Thursday offered puja along with his wife to the Markandeya irrigation project dam near Shirur.

He said the district can become the favoured destination for investment in the irrigation sector with assured returns, if the government shows the political will to develop this green belt and thereby boost agricultural economy.

Mr. Angadi said the district with fertile soil, suitable climate and six rivers — the Krishna, the Malaprabha, the Ghataprabha, the Markandeya, the Hiranyakeshi and the Dudhganga — flowing through it, is deprived of investments to boost irrigation-based agriculture.

He alleged that lack of political on part of successive governments is the reason for the district remaining backward.

He said that the Government should stop yielding to populist and unscientific demands to please vote banks and make investments based on feasibility aspects. He claimed that senior engineers are of the view that Belgaum is the only potential district for investment in irrigation projects.

Mr. Angadi, who recently held discussions on the slow pace of development on irrigation projects in the Krishna basin in general and Belgaum district in particular, said the State Government should follow same "strategy" as being aggressively pursued by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra on the lower and upper streams of Krishna.

"Andhra Pradesh is going ahead with 11 illegal project ignoring objections of the State, therefore, Karnataka should also waste no time and adopt same strategy and start work on Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion scheme across the Mahadayi immediately," he said.

Mr. Angadi said the Markandeya Irrigation project, which is nearing completion, is a 35-year-old dream of the farmers of the district. The project stands as an example for lethargy exhibited both by the successive governments and the leadership in the district, he said.

He alleged that Government had for long neglected rehabilitation works in the affected villages. It is only because of the threat from the district Bharatiya Janata Party that it will lock the officer of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam, that the government took concrete measures in that direction, he claimed.

Now, the construction work on the dam is complete but water cannot be stored because of delay in installation of a gate.

All the crest gates have been installed but the work on last gate is still moving at snail's pace, he said.

Mr. Angadi said the Karnataka Construction Company, the contractor in the project, should expeditiously complete the installation work so that the process of impounding water can from September or October, he added.

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