Karnataka   

Work on irrigation projects to be completed ahead of deadline

Progress: Work on the bridge-cum-barrage in full swing at Yeddalli in Sedam taluk of Gulbarga district.

YEDDALLI (GULBARGA DISTRICT): The bridge-cum-barrages across the Kagina at Yeddalli and Kukkunda in Sedam taluk, work on which is nearing completion, are examples of how cost escalation can be prevented by completing the projects before the deadline.

These projects are part of 10 barrages taken up for construction by the State Government across the river to utilise the share of water allocated under the Scheme A of the Bachawat Tribunal.

Although work on both Yeddalli and Kukkunda bridge-cum-barrages was scheduled to be completed by November, the projects are likely to be completed before the rainy season.

Officials of the Minor Irrigation Department are confident of impounding water in the two barrages this year.

Superintending Engineer Jagannath Halangi told The Hindu that the involvement of the contractors , timely release of funds and continuous monitoring by the officials of the department had helped in the achievement.

This has come as a surprise for the people of Gulbarga district where irrigation projects such as Bennethora, Amarja, Gandorinala and Lower Mullamari are pending for the past 30 years, resulting in cost escalation.

Mr. Halangi said that early completion would not only prevent cost escalation, but also help the contractors earn more profit. The people could utilise the stored water for irrigation, he said.

Nearly 750 hectares of land in the perennially drought-prone areas of Sedam taluk will benefit from the 0.064 tmcft of water impounded in the Yeddalli bridge-cum-barrage project, taken up at a cost of Rs. 11.89 crore.

An area of 825 hectares will be benefited from the Kukkunda bridge-cum-barrage project, taken up at a cost of Rs. 8.16 crore.

Mr. Halangi said of the 10 barrages taken up for construction, work on Meenahabal, Shanakarawadi and Lohara bridge-cum-barrages along with the two bridge-cum-barrages constructed by the Rajashree Cement Factory at Malkhed and ACC Cement Factory at Ingalgi village in Chitapur taluk had been completed.

The work on bridge-cum-barrages at Kachur, Mudbol and Mutga were in different stages of completion. He said that the work on all the barrages across the river would be completed as scheduled by November.

To a query, Mr. Halangi said that by utilising 0.752 tmcft of water in the 10 barrages, 10,402 hectares of land would be provided irrigation facilities.

Although canals would not be constructed, farmers would be permitted to lift the water which would be available throughout the year for irrigating their lands, he said.

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