The activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took out a 40 kilometre-long bike rally from Shakunavalli village to Sorab town on Tuesday demanding that the State government take measures for the implementation of Kachavi irrigation project at the earliest. Ex-minister H. Halappa said that the previous BJP government in the State had given approval to the project in 2011. It was planned to lift 0.50 tmc water from Varada River near Kachavi village and feed it to 28 tanks in Jade hobli limits. The project was estimated to cost Rs. 27 crore. It is unfortunate that the present Congress government and Sorab MLA Madhu Bangarappa have not shown interest in implementing the project, he said.
Shikaripur MLA B.Y. Raghavendra said that the Kachavi project had been planned in order to provide water for drinking and irrigation purposes for the drought-hit Jade hobli in Sorab taluk. The implementation of the project was necessary for the comprehensive development of the taluk, he said.
He expressed displeasure over the State government’s poor handling of the drought in the State. The financial assistance released from the Central government to undertake relief works in drought-affected taluks has not been utilised properly, he said.
