Kundapur: A probe will be initiated on the delayed construction work of Varahi Irrigation project and the offenders will be held liable said M B Patil, Minister for Irrigation. He was discussing the issues of the delayed construction work of the Varahi Irrigation project with Ministers for Forest and Revenue, farmers and locals at Hosangadi here on January 16.
The modality of the probe will be discussed later but the construction work will continue in full swing to meet the expectations of farmers. The construction of Right Bank Canal (RBC) measuring 18 km will be completed on priority basis which will enable the department to release water for 3000 hectares by April 2015. The construction of Left Bank Canal (LBC) measuring 30 km will be the next priority for the Irrigation department. This will enable the department to release water for 5600 hectares by April 2016.
He also said that the completion of the project was his sole priority. A committee will be setup under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, along with Revenue Officials and Forest Officials, to take necessary measures to facilitate the early completion of the project. The land acquisition for the rest of the project will be made after studying the cost benefit ratio of the project to the rest of the areas. He also said that the construction of 18 km of RBC and 8 km of LBC could move in full swing as he had earlier visited and addressed the problems of the project.
Pratap Chandra Shetty, MLC said that the project has the sole intention of facilitating the irrigation activities in this part but it seems that the real cause is ruined. The construction companies have ruined the project for their personal interests. He urged the minister to complete the project to facilitate the irrigation needs of the farmers. He also said that the government’s policy decisions are affecting the project as the interest to complete the project is missing among the officials. He said that constant changes in the construction plan by the contractors and engineers have merely ruined the cause of the project. M B Patil said that the probe now will upset all who are involved in facilitating the construction of Varahi Irrigation project.
The representatives raised the numerous issues and pointed fingers on the revenue and Varahi engineers on the project. M B Patil requested the representatives to coordinate with the officials for the early completion of project.
Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forests, said that his department has cleared the proposal for the irrigation project in 129 hectares. The proposal for another 30 acres forest land for the irrigation project will be cleared by April. He also said that he will support the cause of the project and if the irrigation department requests for additional land through online process, the same will be followed up on top priority.
Mahadev Prasad, Minister for Revenue, said that he has instructed the Deputy Commissioner and all revenue officials to extend their support towards the completion of the project. He will depute the Surveyors, Assistant Director Land Records and Land Acquisition Officers if the irrigation department feels the necessity of the same.
Haladi Srinivas Shetty, MLA Kundapur Constituency, said that certain changes in the project were made in the interest of the public to prevent saline water entering into the canals. He also stressed for the early completion of the project.
M B Patil requested the Udupi Raitha Sangha to call of the protest as their demands were settled and the Irrigation Department had decided to complete the project to facilitate the needs of the people. He said that a booklet briefing on the construction of the project will be printed to settle the doubts in the minds of people. He met the protesters sitting near Siddapur Circle and the protest was called off after the promises given by M B Patil.
Oscar Fernandes MP Rajya Sabha, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development and Minister in-charge District; Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA Udupi; Gopal Poojary, Byndoor MLA; Kota Shrinivas Poojary, MLC; Jayaprakash Hege former MP of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, R Vishal, Deputy Commissioner; Annamalai K, District Superintendent of Police; Charulatha Somal, Assistant Commissioner Kundapur; Gayathri Nayak, Special Tahsildar Byndoor; Varahi Officials, Taluk & Zilla Panchayat members and others were present.
