Cabinet gives nod for Tumakuru canal.

The State Cabinet recently decided to implement the Tumakuru canal project, under the Upper Bhadra Project (UBP), to ensure irrigation facilities to 84,900 hectares in the three semi-arid districts of Tumakauru, Chikkamagaluru and Chitradurga.

A Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to utilise 29.9 tmcft of water under the 'B' scheme of the Bachawat Award. The UBP commenced in 2002-03, the benefits of which were confined to Chitradurga district alone.

The Tumakuru canal will ensure water to the drylands of Tarikere and Kadur in Chikkamagaluru, Hiriyur and Hosadurga in Chitradurga, and Chikkanayakanahalli and Sira in Tumakuru. It would be able to fill 131 tanks in three districts. The entire UBP is expected to ensure irrigation for 2.25 lakh hectares after completion.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the revised cost of the UBP is Rs. 12,340 crore. A detailed project report would be submitted to the Centre for declaring it a national project to obtain 90 per cent of the funding from the Centre.

The Cabinet also decided to sanction Rs. 635 crore for the Ballari canal project in Belagavi district.

The Cabinet decided to annul land lease and investment agreements signed with Regional Airport Holdings International Ltd., a joint venture of IL&FS (IL&FS Transport and IL&FS Engineering), for developing airports in Kalaburagi and Shivamogga.

The govt. has decided to approach the Airports Authority of India for completing two airports.


THE HINDU