Karnataka - Bidar   

Novel way to build barrages across Manjra

Staff Correspondent

Bidar: For the first time in south India, the State Government will use permeable foundation technology to build bridge cum barrages across the Manjra in Bidar district.

It means that the bridges will be built on a floating foundation, designed like a wide raft made of cement concrete. This is because the river bed does not have hard rock on which concrete structures can be erected. After Punjab, Karnataka will be the first State to try such structures, Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Limited Managing Director H.S. Mahesh told presspersons in Bhalki on Thursday.

The barrages would not be damaged or affected by water pressure and would help control floods, he said. They would also serve as bridges and mini reservoirs, he said.

According to him, the design was chosen as this was the only way the bridges could be built. However, this has doubled the cost, he said. The four barrages on the Manjra, earlier estimated to cost about Rs. 25 crore each, would now cost around Rs. 50 crore each, he said. The Irrigation Department and the KBJNL had engineers skilled in this technology . The four barrages are expected to be completed by March 2009, Mr Mahesh said.

The four barrages will come up at Jirgial, Manikeshwar, Halahalli and Chandapur villages. They will help irrigate lands in Bhalki and Aurad taluks. They will also solve the drinking water problems of villages, it will push up the ground water table and they will connect the villages with towns.

The Chandapur barrage will irrigate 990 hectare of land by impounding 0.143 tmcft of water. The barrage at Halhalli will irrigate 3366 hectares of land by storing 0.547 tmcft, the Manikeshwar barrage will irrigate 990 hectares of land by impounding 0.085 tmcft of water and the one at Jeergial will irrigate 990 hectares of land, the officer added.

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