Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 24: The farmers in the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have always faced shortage of water to irrigate their fields during winter and summer months, although lot of water gets drained into the sea during the rainy season. This is so because of the fact that saline water of the sea gets mixed with the water of the rivulets.

Efforts to help the farmers to raise another crop are being made since some time now, some of which have materialized. Two vented dams, which are part of these initiatives, have been completed in Udupi district. One of them has come across Udyavar rivulet at Manipura Kemtoor. This dam, which has come up because of the efforts put in by Kaup MLA, Lalaji R Mendon, and Udupi MLA, Raghupati Bhat, has cost the exchequer Rs 105 lac. This dam will supply fresh water to irrigate about 250 acres of fields located in Alevoor, Manipura, and Udyavar villages.

The other vented dam has come up at Cherkady-Hinklady. The total cost of this project is Rs 115 lac. MLA, Raghupati Bhat, had shown lot of interest in this project. This dam will benefit farmers from Cherkady, Kukkehally, Perdoor, Haluvalli and Hosur villages. The thirst of about 210 acres of land in these villages will be satiated by this project.

These details were provided by minor irrigation department officials, assistant executive engineer, H Jagadish, and assistant engineer, Krishmaurty, who inspected both the dams on Monday January 24. These vented dams are slated for inauguration shortly.