Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundpaur, Nov 29: Udupi district in-charge minister, Pramod Madhwaraj, took officials of Varahi project severely to task for fumbling in answering questions, besides providing vague answers to queries relating to the project. He shot a barrage of questions towards the officials like the progress in the project after the chief minister inaugurated it, how far has the release of water improved, when will water be released to canals during this season etc. He also advised them to have at least some kind of humanity and serve farmers interests.
This was witnessed at the progress review meeting of Varahi irrigation project organized on Tuesday November 28 at the taluk panchayat office here.
When an official stated that date for release of water would be fixed after observing the level of water in Mani dam, MLC and Raita Sangha president, Prathap Chandra Shetty, went wild. He pointed out that there is no link between level of water in Mani dam and release of water in Varahi canals. He wanted to know whether the official is an agent of some person. Shetty got support from farmers who had come to the meeting and posed sharp questions to officials. The MLC warned the officials to fix date for releasing water lest other options would be explored. Kedoor Sadananda Shetty of Raita Sangha said he is getting suspicious about the motive of officials and advised them against turning Varahi into another Cauvery.
Pramod said that people have been complaining about cracks in the walls because of the failure of the officials in ensuring that only controlled blasts were set off. He said that the officials have denied this, but the deputy commissioner has observed that cracks have appeared in some houses. He advised the officials to furnish a report within two weeks.
When Raita Sangha activist, Sampigedi Sanjeev Shetty, noted that 500 acres of land can be irrigated if water is channelized to Kotekere in Hosangady by spending two crore rupees, the officials said that project can be prepared if minimum of 2,000 acres of land is being irrigated. Sampigeri, who turned angry at this, said that in Alur Gundur, the department has spent Rs 75 crore but not even 200 acres were irrigated.
Gram panchayat member, Krishna Poojary, said that two vented dams built at Nadpalu in Amasebail in 2013 by spending Rs 1.4 crore have gone waste as they provide water only during rainy season and they are not maintained well as a result of which equipment is getting rusted. Sanjeeva Shetty said that Varahi canal flows at a low gradient in Ullur village. Therefore, water from wells and ponds get drained into the canal. He said water problem arises in this village during January or February. "Varahi officials ask us to bring geology certificate to prove our claims. Have the engineers procured this certificate before digging the canal? Our farms are withering for want of water," he said, and demanded permission to fix pump to canal and alternative arrangement for drinking water.
A woman, Rajalaxmi, said that her areca nut farm has been destroyed because of Varahi project and that officials of the project are not helping her. She said that her family used to thrive on farm income but now she has taken up job as server for a marriage hall to supplement dwindling income. The minister and Prathap Chandra Shetty, noting this issue had even been discussed in previous meetings, expressed anger at the callousness of officials towards addressing it. Madhwaraj said that the deputy commissioner had inspected the spot and recommended compensation of Rs 12,62,000. He asked the officials to address the issue and see that compensation is disbursed to the aggrieved woman immediately. He also called the managing director of the project and instructed for disbursement of the compensation without delay.
MLAs, Haladi Srinivas Shetty and Gopal Poojary, deputy commissioner of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, assistant commissioner, Shilpa Nag, zilla panchayat executive officer, chief engineer of Varahi Project, and tahsildar were present.