Survey work for Upper Bhadra project underway: Minister

Bangalore, July 20 (UNI) The survey work for the proposed Upper Bhadra Project to provide water for Chickmagalur, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Kolar districts in the state was still underway, Karnataka Planning Minister Mr Ramachandra Gowda informed the Legislative Council here today.

Replying to Mr V S Ugrappa (Cong) during the question hour, Mr Gowda said it was decided to provide 21.50 TMC of water for both irrigation and drinking water to four drought-prone districts in the central Karnataka.

The minister said the proposed Upper Bhadra Project would be implemented by the state-owned Karnataka Neeravari Nigam (KNN), after the expert committee submitted its report on cost estimation.

Not satisfied with the reply, Mr Ugrappa alleged that the committee formed to allocate water to four districts had ignored the urgent need of Pavagada taluk and demanded that the government set right the ''injustice'' done to the most backward taluk in the state.

He also trooped to the well of the House and staged a dharna demanding immediate review of water allocation to Tumkur district and inclusion of Pavagada taluk under the project.

While diverting water to Kolar taluk under the Upper Bhadra Plan, several upstream areas in Kolar district were ignored, Mr Ugrappa charged.

V R Sudarshan (Cong), supporting the demand of Mr Ugrappa, urged the government to convene a meeting of all the legislators of the four districts to set right the anomalies.

After securing an assurance from the government to consider inclusion of Pavagada taluk under the UBP and convene a meeting of the representatives of the UBP command area, Mr Ugrappa withdrew his dharna.

UNI