The Hindu : Karnataka News : Irrigation project likely to be delayed

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Friday, Nov 23, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Irrigation project likely to be delayed

Staff Correspondent

Chitradurga: The long-awaited Upper Bhadra irrigation project, which is aimed at addressing water scarcity in Chitradurga, Tumkur, Kolar and Chikmagalur districts, is likely to be delayed further because of the delay in forming the Technical Subcommittee.

The Janata Dal (S)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition Government led by H.D. Kumaraswamy had set up a project office here, which was being managed by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam.

The process of inviting tenders for over Rs. 4,000-crore project to be undertaken in packages has been completed. But without the subcommittee, which has to finalise the agency for awarding the tender, the work cannot be expedited.

For preliminary works, including survey, the Government had allocated Rs. 850 crore to the Neeravari Nigam.

The project is designed to irrigating over 1.2 lakh hectares of land.

It is to be completed within 24 months from the site being handed over to the implementing agency.

The project has been divided into three packages, according to an official connected with it.

The first package is to lift 13.88 tmcft of water from the Tunga to the Bhadra at an estimated cost of Rs. 125 crore.

Three bidders participated in the tender process for this package.

Two bidders participated in the tender process for the second packageestimated at Rs. 550 crore.

It will lift 13.88 tmcft of water from the Bhadra to irrigate lands in Chitradurga and Chikmagalur districts.

Under the third package, a 6.9-km tunnel will be constructed at Ajjampur village in Chikmagalur district at an estimated cost of Rs. 150 crore to supply 5.60 tmcft of water to Tumkur and Kolar districts for drinking purposes.

“Nine agencies participated the tender process,” the official said.

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