CHIKMAGALUR: D.M. Putte Gowda, MLC and vice-president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), has urged the Government to provide facts and figures of the Upper Bhadra Project, proposed to be constructed in Chikmagalur district.

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Gowda said the Government should specify where it is going to obtain 10 tmcft of water it intends to supply to Chitradurga and Davangere districts. Accusing the Government of trying to mislead the people, he said construction of the dam should not be politically motivated.

Pointing out that most lift irrigation schemes do not function due to power shortage in summer, he expressed doubts about the feasibility of this project. He said that M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Water Resources, has promised that the project will be undertaken only if it is economically feasible.

Mr. Gowda wondered why the three Cabinet ministers from Chikmagalur district did not oppose the project when it received administrative sanction in 2003. Describing it as a hasty decision, he said the Government had yielded to pressure. The KPCC will urge the Government to drop the project, he added.

Rain damage

He said the committee appointed by the KPCC to estimate rain damage has toured parts of the district, including Sringeri, Koppa and Mudigere taluks. The total damage is estimated to be more than Rs. 30 crores. The committee will submit a report to the party president so that he can pressure the Government to provide relief.

Mr. Gowda said the damage to roads in the district has been tentatively estimated to be Rs. 5 crores. About 20 acres of coffee and arecanut plantations and 10 acres of paddy fields have been washed off after a newly-constructed tank breached near Siravase in Chikmagalur taluk. He said he has asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit a report to the Government about the losses.

Ginger, which is being grown in about 5,000 acres after it received a good price last year, has suffered extensive damage. More than 50 per cent of the crop has been affected by black rot due to water-logging and the damage is estimated to be about Rs. 12 crores. He said that farmers who had taken up ginger cultivation to overcome financial constraints have gotten deeper into debt.

Potato and vegetable crops grown in Chikmagalur taluk have also suffered extensive damage. Mr. Gowda said the damage to arecanut crop cannot be accurately estimated as the fruit development was in the early stage. However, coffee and cardamom have been adversely affected by heavy rain.

T.V. Maruti, general secretary of KPCC, who led the team inspecting rain damage, said his team visited affected areas in Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts. Expressing dissatisfaction with the estimate prepared by the authorities, he said block Congress presidents have been instructed to submit detailed village-wise data on the rain damage.

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