: The first phase of the much awaited Varahi irrigation project near Kundapur in the neighbouring district of Udupi was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Water was released for 2,500 hectares of land after the inauguration yesterday, officials said.
Later, addressing the gathering at a function held at Siddapur, the Chief Minister said the entire project would be completed within two years.
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Siddaramaiah said about 60 per cent of the Varahi project was carried out after Congress came to power in 2013. The government had in the last three years released Rs 34,300 crore for the 75 incomplete irrigation projects in the state, including Varahi, he said.
The government would have to spend Rs one lakh crore to complete all ongoing irrigation projects. He said he knew the problems faced by farmers as he was from an agricultural family.
Minister for Water Resources M B Patil said the inauguration of Varahi project's first phase was a historic moment for Udupi district. The project, which began 35 years ago saw only debates and discussions for the first 25 years. The work on the first phase could be completed after it was handed over to the Karnataka Irrigation Commission.
Byndoor MLA Gopal Bhandary presided. Oscar Fernandes MP and district in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake were among those present.
Earlier, talking to reporters, Siddaramaiah strongly criticised former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's remark that Rahul Gandhi should first visit the farmers in Karnataka, saying Rahul did not need any advice from him.
When he was Chief Minister,Kumaraswamy was least bothered about the problems of farmers, he said, adding that Congress was a party which always lived up to the aspirations of farmers. Rahul Gandhi would visit the state soon, he said.
