Karnataka - Raichur   

ICC decides to let water into TLBC till April 14

Raichur: The Tungabhadra Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) has decided to maintain the inflow into the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC) till April 14 instead of March-end to facilitate the harvest of standing crops in tail-end command areas in Raichur district.

According to official sources, the ICC, at its earlier meeting, decided to maintain water supply in TLBC till March-end. But there had been a demand from tail-end farmers for continued water supply till April 15, as they were expecting a delay in the harvest of paddy. Considering this, the ICC decided to continue water supply till April 14, after which the canal will be closed for three months, during which time the Government will implement the second phase of the modernisation of TLBC.

Welcoming the ICC's decision, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) urged the authorities to maintain a constant discharge of 3,600 cusecs till April 10 and 2,000 cusecs from then till April 14.

In a statement here on Saturday, Chamarasa Malipatil, vice-president of the sangha, said sowing of paddy crop in the command areas this summer was delayed owing to a prolonged winter. Farmers were expecting a 15-day delay in harvest of the crop, and hence had sought extension of water supply in the canal.

He said that earlier, the ICC decided to maintain a discharge of 3,500 cusecs in the canal till March 31 and 2,000 cusecs between April 1 and April 10.

However, despite the new decision, it had failed to specify the discharge till the closure of the canal.

Mr. Malipatil said the ICC should maintain a constant discharge of 3,600 cusecs in the canal till April 10 and continue water supply for the next four days with a reduced discharge of 2,000 cusecs. Water supply in the canal might not reach the tail-end areas if the discharge was reduced to 2,000 cusecs before April 10.

On the implementation of the second phase of modernisation of TLBC, the sources said the department concerned had almost completed the work by strengthening the main canal.

However, out of last year's grants, it was unable to utilise Rs. 140 crore owing to technical problems.

During this year, the Government approved Rs. 300 crore-worth work on the second phase of the canal modernisation.

During the canal closure period, the department decided to improve distribution channels under all major distributaries from mile zero to the tail-end (147th mile) of the TLBC. A sum of Rs. 440 crore, including last year's carryover grant of Rs. 140 crore, would be spent for the purpose, they added.

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