VIJAYAPURA: Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Wednesday said the ongoing infrastructure work, including the under-construction main canal for implementing Upper Krishna Project Phase-III will be taken to its logical end in the next two years.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Patil said Karnataka has got 130.90 tmcft water as per the second award of the Krishna Water Tribunal. However, it was not being utilised because the Union government is yet to notify it. So the height of the Almatti reservoir was not increased from existing 519.60 metres to 524.256 metres, he said.
Even in the absence of a notification, the main canal work worth `13,500 crore is under progress. Approximately `50,500 crore is required to complete the project, including rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R). This year, the state allocated `1,750 crore for this project, Patil said.
Patil added that the cost of UKP-III needs such huge money as the major component of the cost will go to R&R.
“A panel headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already held deliberations to work out R&R costs. In the next 8-10 days, a package will be announced for farmers who will give up their lands for the project,” he said.
Apart from this, 20 villages will be submerged if the reservoir’s level is increased. The package will also cover the resettlement of the villagers, he added.
Patil said HUDCO has come forwarded to fund UKP-III, but it is yet to be decided if it will be fully or partially funded. “We will get the notification from the Union government to use water for UKP-III in the next six months and the entire project will be completed in the next three years,” he said.
This project is aimed at irrigating 5.30 lakh hectares in seven districts of North Karnataka.