Gadag: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, inaugurated an ambitious project worth Rs. 1,049.74 crore aimed at providing drinking water to all 343 villages in Gadag district, which is said to be the first of its kind in the country initiated by state government.
(Photo courtesy: The Hindu)
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the multi-village drinking water project Siddaramaiah said that the project would be completed well in advance. His government is committed to implement Kalasa Banduri project and an interim application will be filed before the Mahadayi tribunal within 3-4 days.” he said.
“We are ready to hold a discussion with the Goa Chief Minister by taking an all-party delegation to that state. There is a need for intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with Goa, hence we will exert pressure on the Centre after holding a meeting of all MPs on the Mahadayi issue” he said.
The state government has utilized Rs 33,000 crores for irrigation projects ever since Congress party came to power in the State, he added.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and district in-charge H.K. Patil said that the project was being launched for the first time in the country. Although a 30-month period had been given for executing the work, the contractors had assured him of completing the project by June 2017. Once completed, the project would be a model for the entire country, he said.
A host of Ministers and elected representatives were present on the occasion.
The project which will provide drinking water to 343 villages and Mundaragi Town, has been designed keeping in mind the population growth for the next 20 years and has been given to companies for execution under the Design, Build, Operate, Transfer (DBOT) scheme.
The Rs. 470.24 crore project for 131 villages of Ron and Naragund taluk has been entrusted to Haryana-based Tahal Consulting Engineers, while Larson and Toubro Ltd. has been entrusted with the Rs. 579.5 crore project for supply drinking water to Mundaragi town and 212 villages of Mundaragi, Gadag and Shirahatti taluks.
Inputs from agencies
