The State government has decided to convene a meeting of legislators from Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davangere and Chikmaglur districts within a month for consultations on getting the Union government’s clearance to acquire 400 acres of forest land in Chikmaglur district to build a canal to supply water from Bhadra dam to Vani Vilas Sagar in Hiriyur taluk, according to Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra.
Announcing this at a meeting of around 600 farmers who depend on the Vani Vilas Sagar for irrigation and drinking purposes, the Minister said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be requested to attend the meeting.
He said that an official committee, headed by Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, was looking into the issue of acquiring land. He said the government had released Rs. 3,000 crore for the Upper Bhadra project. Irrigation and drinking water supply works would be taken up for which administrative and technical clearance had been given. A total of Rs. 1,000 crore had been spent on the project.
Later, speaking to presspersons, Mr. Jayachandra said that clearance had also been given for the Tumkur Branch canal work and tenders had been called. Once the work was completed, Hosadurga, Chikkanayakanahalli and Chitradurga and neighbouring areas would get water.
