The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Special package funds for canal work likely

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Friday, Feb 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Special package funds for canal work likely

Nagesh Prabhu

Rs. 400 crore spent on repairs to Bhadra canal
CWC urged to consider the revised proposal

BANGALORE: Legal hurdles in the execution of medium and major irrigation projects under the Prime Minister’s package in six districts where farmers were under distress has forced the State Government to think of utilising Rs. 1,208 crore for comprehensive repair of the Bhadra canal.

The Water Resources Department has proposed to utilise the fund for repair work of the canal in Chikmagalur, Davangere, Shimoga and Bellary districts.

Already, the department has spent Rs. 400 crore on repairing the canal, officials in the department told The Hindu.

Under the Rs. 2,689-crore Prime Minister’s package, the Centre has earmarked Rs. 1,208 crore for medium and major irrigation projects in the districts of Belgaum, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Shimoga and Chitradurga.

The Centre opposed the execution of major and medium irrigation projects in the Cauvery and Krishna basins as the State had disputes with its neighbours and petitions were pending before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court on allocation of river waters.

A few months ago, the Government had proposed to utilise the amount for executing the watershed project programme in these districts. But the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Planning Commission had rejected the proposal.

Now, it proposed to take up repair of the Bhadra right bank and left bank canals. The canals irrigate three lakh hectares in four districts. Repair of the canals would ensure water to farmers in the last mile, the officials said.

The department held discussions with officials of the Planning Commission and CWC and requested the authorities to consider the proposal, which would enable the State to utilise funds under the package.

Since Davangere district was covered under the package, the department urged the CWC to allow the State to execute the canal work in that district.

Tardy execution

The Centre launched the package 18 months ago, but its execution had been tardy. Less than 30 per cent of the amount earmarked under the package has been spent so far in six districts, according to officials of the Agriculture Department.

The State had been unable to utilise the funds under the package because of cumbersome procedures involved in obtaining clearances from several departments and agencies at the Centre.

Although the State pleaded with the Centre to establish a single window agency to clear files pertaining to the package, steps had not been taken so far, officials said.

“There is little synergy among different components of the multicrore package,” a top official in the Agriculture Department said.

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