Modernisation of Upper Bhadra project approved

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BANGALORE: While good rains in the state have caused their share of problems, its effects will may be beneficial as the Gove..

BANGALORE: While good rains in the state have caused their share of problems, its effects will may be beneficial as the Government of Karnataka has approved the Upper Bhadra and the Bhadra Canal Modernisation irrigation project to the tune of Rs 3,388 crore.
The Upper Bhadra project received the nod to cater to irrigation, the benefits of which would be reaped by Kolar region as well. Officials of the department of irrigation have confirmed that water would be provided to Tarikere, Hosdurga, Kadur and Challakere in Chitradurga and other scanty rainfall areas in the belt as well. Also, the Central Water Commission has approved the administrative sanction for the Bhadra Canal Modernisation.Nearly 16 Thousand Million Cubic (TMC) feet of the available 21 TMC would be used for irrigation. The canal would extend to a total of 271 km and would be taken up in 25 packages. Added to this there would be subcanals and distributory canals on a stretch of over 924 km and cross drains of 1,711 km. The department has spent over `45.25 crore for the same.

Officials also informed that the Bhadra reservoir is undergoing changes to divert a portion of its water for this purpose as the same would require more than 1.7 lakh hectares of land to be irrigated. However, farmers have expressed concern at the project's impact as it could deplete groundwater.