Vijayapura: Claiming that the Union Government is expected to issue Gazette Notification with regard to Upper Krishna Project (UKP) – III phase within three or four months, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and assured that soon after the same he would allocate adequate funds required for relief and rehabilitation required after rising the height of Almatti Dam from present 519 metres to 524 metres.
Speaking after laying foundation stone for the ambitious Peerapura-Budihal lift irrigation project in Kodaganuru village of Talikota Taluk on Tuesday April 26, he said that the UKP-III is facing some legal hurdles which is delaying the issuance of the notification.
He said that when he was Water Resources Minister, the total allocation of only Rs. 17,000 Crore required for UKP-III, which has not increased to a whopping over Rs. 60,000 Crore.
“Anyway, I will strive to complete the irrigation project of UKP during my tenure itself,” he declared.
Admitting that the people of Vijayapura and Balgakote have given the highest sacrifice of land for the construction of Almatti Dam and implementation of the irrigation project, Bommai however said that they have still been deprived of justice.
“The twin districts have seen over six decades of struggle for the irrigation projects where numerous farmers have sacrificed their land, and yet they have not received the justice they deserve. I am trying to give justice to their sacrifice by ensuring that all the projects of UKP are complete in my tenure itself,” he said.
Bommai said that the State was facing a revenue deficit of over Rs. 5,000 Crore caused by Covid pandemic and lockdown. But now, the State has increased revenue collection of Rs. 16,000.“
The money has been used to clear the bills of over Rs. 8,000 Crore of contractors who worked for development of various infrastructure projects,”, he said.
Referring to the Revanasiddeshwara irrigation project of the District, he said that he will collect the details after going back to Bengaluru and try to give administrative approval to the project in the current year itself.
Earlier, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded the CM to allocate Rs. 10,000 Crore exclusively for the irrigation projects of Vijayapura District. He alleged that though Former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa had assured to earmark Rs. 25,000 Crore irrigation project he failed to meet the promise.
Ministers, Govind Karjol, Umesh Katti, MP Ramesh Jigajinagi, MLAs Somanagouda Patil Sasanur, A. S. Patil Nadahalli, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and several other party leaders were present.
