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Thursday, March 28 2024
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Udupi

Pramod Madhwaraj to visit Varahi project site on March 6

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Manipal: The delay in completion of the proposed Varahi Irrigation project and irregularities in the same led to a lengthy discussion in the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting at the Dr. V. S. Acharya Memorial Hall, Rajathadri, Manipal here on February 20.

varahi copyDistrict in-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj presided over the meeting and raising the issue in the meeting, MLC Pratapchandra Shetty said the actual purpose of the project of serving the farmers is yet to be fulfilled.

“Water has not been released to farmers in the region. In fact, the water is used for power generation. The bureaucrats here are more interested in power generation than feeding water to the fields.,” he said.

Responding to the same, Madhwaraj said that he will visit the Varahi project site on March 6 and review the ongoing work there. He instructed the officials concerned to fix the leakages in the pipeline connecting the lift irrigation project to the left bank canal. He said after the spot inspection, the minor irrigation minister will be called to discuss the loopholes in the project.

Kota Srinivas Poojary MLC also said that the purpose of the Varahi project is to irrigate the farm land in the surrounding areas. 16tmc of water is available in Varahi river and it is sufficient for Udupi. The off-take for the lift irrigation at the left bank begins at 33 km which ends Barkur. The problems of forest and deemed forest area can be prevented.

Kota Srinivas Poojary questioned about the availability of sand in the district, to which the Public Works Department Executive Engineer said that 820 tonnes of sand has been extracted from two blocks in Karkala, but it was later discontinued as the quality of the sand was poor.

In Kundapur the work is going on in two sand blocks and 2,620 tonnes of sand has been extracted. There is stock of 800 tonnes of sand and the price has been reduced to Rs. 750 as against the earlier price of Rs. 960.

Pramod Madhwaraj said that the state government has submitted a proposal on CRZ to the central government urging for relaxation that has been given to Kerala and Goa.

“The BJP government’s failure in sending the proposal to the central government in 2011 led to CRZ problem in the district,” Madhwaraj said and refused the demand to reduce fines imposed on the illegal sand offenders.

Babu Shetty, Zilla Panchayat member said that the illegal transport of sand is on in the neighbouring districts. Additional Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan said that constant patrolling is on the in the border areas. The state government has provided three vehicles for National Highway patrolling. Assistant Commissioner Shilpa Nag said that the checkposts have been set up at Shiroor border.

Haladi Srinivas Shetty Kundapur MLA, Sheela K Shetty ZP Vice President, T. Venkatesh Deputy Commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis ZP CEO and other among were present.

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