BANGALORE: Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa on Thursday said 1,373 vacant engineer posts in the department would be filled soon.

He told presspersons here that recruitment for all junior and assistant engineer vacancies would be made through the Karnataka State Public Service Commission (KPSC). The department will request the KPSC to begin the recruitment process as soon as possible. The posts have been vacant for four to five years.

A decision has been taken to construct 207 check-dams to increase the groundwater level in various regions.

The cost of each dam will range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. A sum of Rs. 150 crore has been earmarked for the purpose, Mr. Eshwarappa said.

Silt will be removed from all tanks in Bijapur and Bagalkot at a cost of Rs. 386 crore, and Rs. 86 crore has been set aside for the purpose this year.

Justifies decision

He justified the Government's decision to earmark Rs. 200 crore for the construction of a dam across the Dandavathi, a tributary of the Varada river in Sorab taluk of Shimoga district.

The former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, MP, has been opposing the project, which he has termed unfeasible.

The Minister said tenders would be called soon to conduct a survey of the project. A sum of Rs. 25 crore had been set aside for the project in the Budget.

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