Govt to speed up works for implementation of Netravati project

Bangalore, June 27 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy today said the government, in next few days, will make full payment to a Hyderabad based institute to speed up remaining survey works for implementation of diversion of surplus waters of Netravati river for ground water recharge and providing of drinking water to ten drought-hit districts.

Talking to newsmen here he said the state government had so far paid Rs 2.50 crore to the institute of the total cost of Rs 15.60 crore for providing the project reports.

He recalled the previous government, based on a report from an irrigation expert, had made an agreement with the institute for providing the project reports for the implementation of diversion of surplus waters from the West flowing Netravati river to East to provide water to the drought-hit districts.

The Chief Minister said he has convened meeting of the Ministers of the departments concerned in the next three days to discuss about making balance payment to the institute at the earliest.

Expert G S Paramasivaiah had submitted the report in 2003 with a Master Plan for providing assured drinking water to the districts of Tumkur, Chitradurga, Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Hassan, Mandya, Shimoga, Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag and Bangalore city.

Stating that the people of Dakshina Kannada district were opposing the Netravati diversion project he said the government would take a final decision only after receiving the full report from the institute.

Mr Kumarswamy today held a meeting of the elected representatives of the districts concerned and other experts in the irrigation field to seek their opinions on the implementation of the project.

UNI