Karnataka to develop 1,200 lakes in four years

Dharwad: The Karnataka government has chalked out a special scheme to develop over 1,200 lakes in eight districts in a span of four years at a cost of Rs 306.98 crore.

The Jala Samvardhana Yojana will cover 1,224 lakes spread over Belgaum, Bijapur, Chikkamagalur, Davanagere, Dharwad, Hasan, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts.

The state has over 36,000 lakes with a capacity to irrigate 6.85 lakh hectare of land. These tanks have also been the main source of water for animal husbandry, drinking water and underground water. But most of these lakes are in bad shape due to silt formation, encroachment and unscientific way of management.

The scheme launched by the department of minor irrigation aims at involving the community in maintaining the lakes through formation of Lake Management Associations at village level. These associations, besides taking up measures to keep the lakes in good condition, will employ the local people belonging to economically weaker section.

K Uday Kumar, district planning coordinator, Jala Sanvardhana Yojana said the World Bank-aided project implemented in the state early in 2001 had shown good results and the action plan for another 1224 lakes would ensure the improvement in the rural economy.

The village panchayat concerned will have to contribute 12 per cent of the lake development cost. While six per cent will be in the form of cash the remaining should be in the form of labour, Uday Kumar explained.

The action plan involves creation of congenial atmosphere for participation of the community in the lake management, taking up community development programmes to strengthen the organizational set up, physical development of lakes by way of repairs and construction, development of agriculture and horticulture in the command area and development of fisheries in the lakes among others.