HASSAN: The inauguration of Aadikebommanahalli Lift Irrigation Scheme by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday has been criticised by farmers and politicians in Hassan district. Some are alleging that though work on the scheme, which was conceived 15 years ago, is yet to be completed, Mr. Kumaraswamy inaugurated it only to "get political mileage".

Villages

The Cauvery Neeravari Nigam has taken up the project to irrigate 8,500 acres of land in 29 villages of Arkalgud taluk, including Chikkaarkalgud, Shambhunathapura, Ankanayakanahallikopplu, Choudenahalli, Vaddarahalli, Neralahalli, Arkalgud, Cholenahalli, Machagowdanahalli, Kelluru, Mokali, Ramenahalli, Baanadahalli, Malalekere, Muttige, Kaashipura, Baichanahalli, Honnavalli, Dadadahalli, Naigere and Aadikebommanahalli in the limits of the Left Bank Canal and Bommanahalli, Aremadanahalli, Ramenahalli, Kattimallenahalli, Mundagodu, Kyatahalli, Kakodanahalli and Haarohalli in the limits of the Right Bank Canal.

Escalation in cost

The project, when conceived in 1991-92, envisaged lifting 0.385tmcft of water from the Hemavathi to irrigate dry land at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.70 crore. But the cost shot up to Rs. 22 crore due to delay in implementing the project.

Water will be lifted to a height of 54 metres before being released into the canals. The project needs 2.075 MW of power to lift water and five pumps will be used for the purpose.

While the length of the raising main is 1,200 metres, the diameter is 1,250 mm. Water will be supplied for the kharif sowing.

`Work to be completed'

However, according to Chief Engineer, Hemavathi Project, C. Mohan, the work on head works has been completed. Only Rs. 8.16 crore has been spent. The work on the 15-km Left Bank Canal has been completed till the 5th km. Work on 5-km Right Bank Canal has been completed till 2.5 km.

However, he claims that the work will be completed by March next and water released into the canals for the benefit of farmers.

According to farmers, the facility will help irrigate only 1,900 acres of land.

Even those farmers likely to benefit were not informed about the inauguration of the project.

"If we had been informed about it, we would have prepared land in advance," a frustrated farmer said on the day of the inauguration.

However, it would be possible to fill tanks and ponds in the area, said a senior official of the Irrigation Department.

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