Taking the much-talked about Paschima Vahini Project forward, a proposal to build 104 vented dams in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts at an estimated cost of ₹ 300 crore has been sent to the government, according to B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada.
In his Rajyotsava Day address at the Nehru Maidan here on Wednesday, the Minister said that the government had announced ₹ 100 crore for the project in the 2017-18 Budget. The 104 vented dams have been proposed in the first stage of the project proposed to build a series of check-dams or vented dams on rivers in the three districts.
An official of the Department of Minor Irrigation, the implementing agency of the project, told The Hindu that the proposal was sent recently. As many as 11 dams have been proposed in Dakshina Kannada.
The Minister said that steps would be taken to begin drinking water supply projects and garden development projects in the urban local bodies of Moodbidri, Mulky, Bantwal, Belthangady, Kotekar and Vitla after a month. Bids for the projects have been invited and the process of selecting bidders would be completed by this month-end.
The Minister said that the government has sanctioned ₹ 81 crore for those projects under phase III of the Nagarottana Scheme.
He said that work on constructing the Panje Mangesh Rao Smaraka Bhavan in Bantwal at an estimated cost of ₹ 5 crore will begin soon. The Chief Minister laid the foundation for it last month.
The Minister said that track conversion for introducing new toy train was under progress at the Kadri Park. The government was investing ₹ 1 crore for it.
Mr. Rai said that the government has reserved ₹ 50 lakh for developing Salumarada Thimmakka garden at Kallagudde in Puttur taluk.
Referring to Kannada, the Minister said that the “will and commitment” of Kannadigas were required if Kannada was to be implemented effectively in administration, Kannada software were to be popularised and if Kannada was to be made a medium of instruction in primary schools.
District-level Rajyotsava awards were presented on the occasion.
