Karnataka mulls seeking Rs 1,000 cr Central fund for irrigation projects

Bangalore: Karnataka will next year seek Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre to complete irrigation projects, Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said today.

"We will send a Rs 1,000 crore proposal to the Central government to take up irrigation projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for next year," Tangadagi told reporters in Bangalore.

In the current year, the Centre allocated Rs 200 crore for implementing the project, Tangadagi said, adding that it has also assured to release another Rs 250 crore shortly.

Irrigation project. Raman Kirpal/ Firstpost

The state has also asked the Centre to approve the programme to be implemented in six more districts, in addition to the existing fifteen districts, Tangadagi said.

"We have sought approval for it in six districts of Bagalkote, Bjiapur, Bellary, Raichur, Davanagere and Koppal," he added.

The minor irrigation department is planning to provide Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes farmers with irrigation borewells powered by solar panels, Tangadagi said.

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The proposal is being mooted for ensuring proper power supply at affordable cost for providing irrigation water to the community farmers, the minister said. The government has allocated Rs 130.60 crore and Rs 73.64 crore to take up the project for SC and ST farmers respectively, Tangadagi said.

PTI