Karnataka thumbs in Rs 1,800-cr drip irrigation project for sugarcane

450,000 acres in Karnataka to be covered under the same

The Karnataka water resources department has come out with a project to adopt drip irrigation for the 450,000 acres that are under sugarcane in the state, at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore. The project will be launched on January 1, 2015.

Minister for Water Resources M B Patil said in Dharwad on Sunday the project would help increase sugarcane production in the state besides saving 184 tmcft of water, which is otherwise used for irrigating sugarcane fields in the state. The project also helps to save electricity worth Rs 480 crore and generate 1,200 Mw of power through eco-generation.

Speaking after receiving the Basava Shanti award presented to him by the Dharwad-based Basava Shanti Mission, Patil said the project envisages an expenditure of Rs 40,000 an acre. The government would enter into a tripartite agreement for providing an incentive of Rs 10,000 an acre and the sugar factory will be asked to give Rs 5,000 an acre. The remaining amount could be provided through sponsors or banks in the form of a soft loan, he added.

Stating he was trying his best to complete the already-launched projects on time, Patil said the infra head works and canals in Upper Krishna Project Stage III have already started and 50 per cent of the work has commenced. The remaining 50 per cent will be launched in March 2015 and a deadline has been set to complete it by December 2016, he informed.

The minister also promised that the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) in Dharwad and Command Area Development Authorities (CADA) would be revamped soon. The department has taken up ambitious project on rejuvenation of tanks and supply of water to these tanks at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore and said he had instructed officials to ensure completion of the projects within the stipulated time.