Irrigation needs in Bagalkot area to be met by 2008

Hubli, May 31 (UNI) Command Area Development Authority (CADA) for Ghataprabha and Malaprabha irrigation projects, chairman C M Nimbannavar said today that the authority was catering to the irrigation needs of 4.38,538 hectares of land in 19 taluks of Belgaum, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Gadag districts and proposed meet the target of 5,30,800 hectares by 2008.

Talking to newsmen here, he said to help farmers move the inputs and produce freely, administrative sanction was accorded Rs 5.13 crore to lay 242 kilometers of roads in the command area, during 2006-07. Till now, 189 kilometers of road was completed and the remaining would be completed by this month end.

Mr Nimbannavar, who took over as chairman just three months ago, said it was proposed to lay another 80 kilometers of road during the current financial year at a cost of Rs 1.6 crore, besides construction of 20 check dams at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and 50 agriculture ponds at a cost of Rs 18 lakh.

He said to encourage farmer participation in water management in the area, 567 water users cooperative societies have been formed.

CADA is conducting regular training programmes on scientific farming to the farmers.

UNI