MEMORANDUM REGARDING ISSUES PERTAINING TO MAJOR & MEDIUM IRRIGATION PROJECTS OF KARNATAKA
DATE : 20.11.2009
Sri. Pawan Kumar Bansal ji,
At the outset, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to discuss with you regarding key issues & also thank you for according techno-economic clearance to 7 irrigation projects of the State in 100th Technical Advisory Committee meeting held on 09.10.2009. I take this opportunity to present a Memorandum of the important issues, which need action/assistance from Government of India.
On behalf of Karnataka, I appeal to your good self to kindly consider and do the needful in sorting out the various issues indicated thereon. (BASAVARAJ BOMMAI)
Minister for Water Resources Department
Government of Karnataka
1. CENTRAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTION/ RESTORATION OF DAMAGES TO INFRASTRUCTURE IN MAJOR & MEDIUM IRRIGATION PROJECTS OF STATE:
Karnataka recently experienced unprecedented floods during the end of September 2009 and 1st week of October 2009. Perennially drought prone districts of Gulbarga. Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Bijapur, Belgaum, Bagalkot in north Karnataka are the worst affected areas due to heavy downpour and flood. Krishna river and its tributaries were in spate due to heavy downpour in their catchment. Several low lying towns, villages and habitations in the near vicinity of river and nalas were inundated causing loss of life and property. In addition to this, many irrigation infrastructures such as canal net works, C.D.works, embankments, ayacut roads have been severely damaged.
Unless damages are repaired/restored, the projects will further suffer. In view of the unprecedented scale of damage caused, the State’s budgetary resources are inadequate for undertaking flood damage works. Existing guidelines under CRF/NCCF funds do not provide for repairs/restoration of major & medium irrigation project works. However, small portion of CRF funds is allocated to some of the components in selected districts as per CRF guidelines.
In a meeting of our Chief Minister with the Union Home Minister, we were assured that proposals for release of funds for damage to infrastructure works outside the CRF/NCCF guidelines will be considered by the concerned Ministry in consultation with the Planning Commission. We have made a detailed assessment of the damages and prepared detailed project reports. The proposals are as follows:
SL. NO. ZONE NO. OF WORKS ESTIMATED COST
1 Upper Krisha Project, Dam Zone, Almatti. 114 1056.68
2 Upper Krisha Project, Canal Zone 1, Bheemarayanagudi. 356 2042.57
3 Upper Krisha Project, Canal Zone 2, Khembavi. 349 1657.44
4 Upper Krisha Project, O & M Zone, Narayanapura. 191 5081.70
5 Irrigation (North), Belgaum 323 2537.21
6 Malaprabha Project Zone, Dharwad. 389 1817.02
7 Irrigation Central Zone, Munirabad. 1454 8515.12
8 Irrigation Project Zone, Gulbarga. 265 680.84
Total 3441 23388.58
Considering the severity of damage, it is requested to release funds for taking up repairs / restoration of damaged infrastructure of irrigation projects in Karnataka as a special case.
2. INCLUSION OF UPPER BHADRA PROJECT IN THE SCHEME OF NATIONAL PROJECTS:
Karnataka has the second largest drought prone area after Rajasthan. In order to drought proof the areas, programmes are currently underway in 82 DPAP blocks and 23 DDP blocks. The ground water position in the district of Chitradurga, Tumkur and Kolar is alarming and the water levels are depleting. Government of Karnataka has taken up many schemes for water harvesting, watershed development etc. However, these efforts have not yielded substantial permanent solutions to the water shortage problems. In view of this, Government of Karnataka has formulated Upper Bhadra Project which is a unique project to utilize 23 TMC of water from the Tunga and Bhadra Reservoirs for irrigating and drinking water requirement of drought prone areas of Chitradurga, Tumkur and Kolar districts. The project has a component to desilt and feed 156 tanks for recharge of ground water. The project cost is more than Rs.5900 crores.
Government of Karnataka has prepared a proposal for submission as per the guidelines No.27/1/2005-PR dated 26th February 2009 issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, GOI to include Upper Bhadra Project as a National project. This project is ideally suited for inclusion as a National project under the guidelines.
Hence, it is requested to consider the proposal favorably to include Upper Bhadra Project in the scheme of National Projects.
3. ACCORDING INVESTMENT CLEARANCE TO MAJOR & MEDIUM IRRIGATION PROJECTS OF THE STATE, ASSISTED UNDER AIBP AND ENHANCEMENT OF PLAN ALLOCATION TO AIBP FOR THE YEAR 2009-10:
The Technical Advisory Committee of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, in its 100th meeting held on 09.10.2009 has cleared the following new /revised cost estimates of following irrigation projects for availing central assistance for the current year under AIBP & Hon’ble PM’s package. Investment clearance of Planning Commission is requested at the earliest. As we will speedily take up completion of projects as per your approval the current year ceiling of AIBP assistance of Rs.500.00 crores be enhanced to Rs.1000.00 crores. We have already budgeted for such expenditure.
Sl. No Name of the Project Remarks
1 Upper Krishna Project Stage I Phase III Revised cost estimate.
Without any change in scope.
2 Upper Krishna Project Stage II
3 Guddadamallapura Lift Irrigation Scheme Medium project. New proposal.
4 Bhima Lift Irrigation Scheme Major project. New proposal.
5 Ghataprabha Project Stage-III Revised cost estimate.
with marginal change in CCA
6 Karanja Project Revised cost estimate.
with reduced CCA of 6,387 Ha
7 Malaprabha Project Revised cost estimate.
With upward revision of CCA to 96,132 Ha.
4. PROVIDING 90% CENTRAL ASSISTANCE UNDER HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER'S SPECIAL REHABILITATION PACKAGE TO MITIGATE DISTRESSED DISTRICTS OF THE STATE :
o At present 6 districts are considered has suicide-prone districts of the State, to mitigate distress farmers in these districts by providing assured irrigation, 90% central assistance is required to be provided to the irrigation projects irrespective of DPAP or non-DPAP status.
o During the current year, central assistance of Rs.697.10 crores (by considering 90%) for ongoing 6 major & medium irrigation projects is proposed to create an irrigation potential of 18,300 Hectares is as follows:
Sl.
No.
Project CA
proposed
Potential
in Ha.
1 Ghataprabha 150.00 2271
2 Malaprabha 100.00 2176
3 Hippargi 99.86 15000
4 Bhadra Modernisation 9.38 0
5 Dudhganga 3.01 3000
6 ERM of Bheemasamudra Tank 4.30 300
Total 366.55 22747
