Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) has given its final approval to a proposal to modernise the canal and distributaries network of the Bennethora Major Irrigation Project in Kalaburagi district at a cost of Rs. 172.12 crore.
The modernisation of the canal and distributaries network of the much-delayed Bennethora Major Irrigation Project, which was originally taken up as drought relief work in 1972 and is yet to be completed in all respects due to various reasons, is being taken up under Extension Rejuvenation and Modernisation. As per the original proposal approved by the government, the cost of modernisation work in the Bennethora project was put at Rs. 150 crore. After a team of senior technical personnel inspected the canals and distributaries network, the cost has gone up to Rs. 172.12 crore, taking into consideration the enormity of the work and other factors, including the increase in cost of inputs.
A KNNL document claimed that though the project was meant to store 5.29 tmcft of water and to create an irrigation potential of nearly 21,000 hectares in drought-prone Chitapur and Sedam taluks, the canal and distributaries system suffered heavy damage due to heavy rain in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and it had become impossible to release water in the damaged canals and distributaries.
When contacted, Superintending Engineer of Gulbarga Irrigation Zone Jagannath Halangi told The Hindu that tenders for taking up modernisation have been floated.
Mr. Halangi said that the modernisation work included the replacement of lining in the entire length of the canals and the distributaries — both right and left bank — to prevent seepage of water into the agriculture fields, reconstruction of damaged cross drainages, aqueducts and repair to road bridges.
The main intention was to streamline the irrigation system and increasing the area under irrigation through increased use of modern water management technologies and ensure flow of water to the entire command area, and arrest seepage and leakage in the canal system. While concrete lining 50.22 km in the Left Bank Canal would cost Rs. 42.29 crore, it would cost Rs. 51.99 crore for concrete lining 62.82 km in the Right Bank Canal.
