Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB)
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Udupi, Dec 6: Minor irrigation minister Shivaraj Tangadagi visited the district Congress committee on Thursday December 4 at Congress Bhavan, Brahmagiri, Udupi.
Speaking to party workers, he said that he had submitted proposals for Rs 356 crore for construction of vented dams in the five districts of the state namely Kolar, Chickballapur, Koppal, Gadag, and Vijayapura. “This project will help to increase the water storage
capacity. The places have been identified for the construction of check dams with all basic requirements. The project report has been prepared for submission and tender allocation process will be conducted soon. The project work will begin by the end of January or in March 2015,” he added.
“As a pilot project, automatic floodgates will be installed at the saltwater exclusion dam (SWED) at Senapura, near Byndoor, Udupi district, at a cost of Rs 12 crore. The gates were made of iron and now these would be replaced by Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP). If this technology will get success, the same gates will be installed at all the SWEDs in the coastal districts. Under the NABARD schemes, the funds of Rs 1.1 crore for Udupi assembly constituency, Rs 2 crore each for Kaup and Byndoor segments, and Rs 1 crore is for Karkala segment,” said Tangadagi.
He further said that he receives Rs 1145 crore grant every year. “This year, I have prepared plans for Rs 800 crore. I have decided to increase the grants in upcoming budget for Western regions
of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada from Rs 710 crore. Now 337 projects are in hand and I have received Rs 353 crore for construction work.
“A sum of Rs 5.6 crore has been allocated for various minor irrigation works for Udupi district. This includes Rs 1.98 crore for the construction of a flood-protection wall, Rs 85 lac for sinking borewells and digging open wells under the Scheduled Caste Welfare Plan and Rs 96 lac for developing irrigation facilities under the Scheduled Tribal Welfare Plan,” he added