State to spend Rs 662 crore on Cauvery basin projects

Karnataka has released Rs 662 crore during 2009-10 to undertake irrigation projects in the Cauvery river basin. It is proposed to replace 16 crest gates of Krishnarajasagar Dam in Mysore, which completed 75 years in 2008, Basavaraj Bommai, minister for irrigation said.

Replying to a question in the state assembly, here today, he said the government proposes to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the KRS dam and to mark this event it plans to modernise the dam. Chikkadeveraya Sagar canal, Devaraya canal and Virija canal are close to 200-300 years old and a survey has been conducted on the health of these canals, so that they can be repaired, he said.

As many as 2,342 projects are underway in the Cauvery basin presently for an estimated cost of Rs 96.80 crore, he said.

Bommai said the government plans to desilt 63 reservoirs. The water storage capacity in these reservoirs has dropped over the last few years as there has been no proper maintenance, he said adding that a new technology will be used to desilt them. Among the important reservoirs in the state, Alamatti, Tungabhadra and Harangi reservoirs have lost 5 tmc, 28.1 tmc and 5.5 tmc feet of water storage capacity respectively due to siltation, he said.