From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 4: Karnataka is seriously considering mobilising the massive investment of at least Rs 50,000 crore necessary for implementing the Third Phase of the Upper Krishna irrigation project, which envisages utilisation of the State’s share of 130 TMCFT of water by raising the height of the Almatti dam across the inter-state Krishna river to the full height of 524.24 meters.

Aware of the huge task involved in implementing the UKP Third Phase, Karnataka’s Water resources minister M B Patil indicated that he has asked the officials to explore the possibilities of raising funds from the HUDCO or other international agencies.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Friday after a review meeting of the high level officials of the Water resources department, the minister said that he asked the officials to prepare a strategy for mobilising funds before taking up the land acquisition.

The minister said the cost of land acquisition alone would be exorbitant. Of the estimated total cost of Rs 50,000 crore for the entire project, land acquisition alone would require over Rs 36000 crore.

He also suggested to the official s to convene a meeting of the senior level officials of the HUDCO and place requisition for financial assistance shortly.

Exhorting the officials to hasten the process of fixation of price for the land acquisition for the UKP-III project, for which over 1,20,000 acres of land was needed, the minister said there is a need to adopt a farmers-friendly approach as for as fixation of price for the land which is going to be acquired for the implementation of the project.

Patil said the State Government is very much committed to utilise the state’s share of Krishna water and bring more areas under irrigation in the Krishna basin.
He said vigorous efforts must be made to convince the farmers to part their land by offering good package of compensation.

Anjum Parvez, the Managing Director of the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited, (KBJNL) the informed the minister said that the process of land acquisition for the UKP-III project was in various stages of progress.

He also informed the minister that the survey of lands which are going to be submerged, once the height of the dam was raised to its permitted height, has been already completed.

It may be recalled that over 5.25 lakh hectares of additional land would be brought under irrigation from implementing as many as nine Projects under the UKP-III project to utilise over 130 TMCFT of water from Krishna River.

The project when completed would benefit Vijayapura, Koppal, Bellary, Bagalkote and other districts in Northern Karnataka.

Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary, B G Gurupadaswamy, the secretary of the water resources department, and other officials were also present on the occasion.