The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Expert advocates closure of canals after kharif and rabi seasons

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Expert advocates closure of canals after kharif and rabi seasons

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: D.N. Desai, principal adviser and chairman, Technical Committee on Krishna Water Disputes, on Monday advocated closure of canals after kharif and rabi seasons and taking up maintenance and repairs for conserving water.

Delivering the S.G. Balekundri lecture at the Institution of Engineers (India), Karnataka State Centre, Mr. Desai said canals are hardly closed. The farmers prevail upon the engineers and the closure period is shrunk leaving no time for repairs. No irrigation system is working to its optimum capacity. The institution also celebrated the Water Resources Day.

He said that the National Water Policy 2002 stipulates effective involvement of stakeholders such as farmers through the Water Users' Association and Water Users Apex Level Federation, the local bodies and gram panchayats. They would educate farmers in various aspects of irrigation system for judicious use of water. He said that the association and the federation are not active and the farmers are not enthusiastic because the irrigation infrastructure was not in good condition.

Mr. Desai said that some associations had refused to accept the canal system unless necessary repairs and reconstruction were carried out. They also need training and it should be imparted by the government agencies. He said that at least 50 per cent of the water is lost during transmission through the canals and supplying water to the fields.

He said that funds were calculated and sanctioned on the basis of a hectare of land, which was outdated. The increasing escalation and labour cost should also be considered. The maximum amount sanctioned for a hectare was spent on establishment and what remained would be meagre for maintenance works.

D.K. Gowda, chairman, Institution of Engineers, presided. G. Ashwathanarayana, former Secretary, Public Works and Irrigation, spoke. Kamala Balekundri, wife of S.G. Balekundri, noted irrigation expert, was present.

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