The state government, on Friday, unveiled a five-year action plan for full utilisation of its share of water in the Krishna river basin.
“We will expedite work in the Krishna valley and complete the projects in the next five years. According to the Bachawat tribunal award, Karnataka has been allocated 177tmc ft of water under scheme ‘B’. Of this, 130tmc ft would be utilised in stage-3 of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP),” said water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai after an all-party meeting chaired by chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Friday.
The government would spend Rs17,000 crore to complete the third stage, which would be completed in five years. Legal hurdles have been removed to expedite the project’s completion.
The project would provide irrigation to 5.30lakh hectares of land in seven backward districts of northern Karnataka — Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Gadag.
The project envisages raising the Alamatti dam’s height to 524 meters from the mean sea level and this would require relocation of 30 villages. At least 1 lakh acres of land would be submerged. Allocation would be made in the next budget to put the project on fast-track.
Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah, Motamma, HD Revanna and others have sought a discussion on the project in the forthcoming state legislature session.
They presented suggestions to ensure efficient rehabilitation of people.
The UKP stage-3 will have nine main sub-components, which includes Mulwad Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS), Chimmalagi LIS, Indi LIS and extension of Gutti Basavanna LIS, Narayanapura Right Bank Canal, Rampur LIS extension, Mallabad LIS, Koppal LIS, Herakal LIS and Bhima diversion plan.
Karnataka, which had expected a higher share of allocation of water, has sought clarifications under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act before the tribunal. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have also sought clarifications. The Centre is yet to notify the final award.
