BELLARY: A proposal to modernise all canals (coming under the No. 6 canal division) in Bellary district at an estimated cost of Rs. 210 crores has been forwarded to the Government for approval.

The work will be completed in the next five years. "Once the canals are modernised, it will prevent loss 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the water released every year," B.A. Panduranga, executive engineer, said.

According to an estimate, around 25 per cent of the tail-end areas of the total 2.72 lakh acres are yet to get water for irrigation. Loss of water due to seepage while passing through the unlined canals, which are around 50 years old, is one of the many reasons cited for this.

There are 12 distributaries for the high-level canal and 50 distributaries for the low-level canals irrigating around 2.80 lakh acres in Bellary, Hospet, Sandur and Sirguppa taluks of the district. The length of the distributaries and sub-distributaries exceed 800 km. Hitherto, the authorities used to remove silt apart from undertaking regular repairs and maintenance, but still water failed to reach some tail-end areas.

Mr. Panduranga said around Rs. 78 crores and Rs. 132 crores are needed for lining the entire stretch of canals and repairing pipe outlets.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail