The State government has given top priority to completing pending irrigation projects, including the Upper Bhadra Project, and it has arranged funds for the purpose, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said.
Speaking after inaugurating Kunchitiga convention organised to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of Vijayaraya Sangameshwar Jayanti at Hosadurga taluk here on Sunday, he said that the irrigation projects in the State were delayed owing to the negligent attitude of the previous government.
If the previous government had given importance to these projects and released funds, they would have been completed now.
The total cost of the Upper Bhadra Project was Rs. 12,340 crore and the government had spent Rs. 1,100 crore so far. “The remaining amount will be released in the coming years and we also hope to get financial assistance from the Union government,” he added. “Once the project is completed, farmers will get irrigation facility. The price of land will also increase considerably. Farmers should not sell their land as the prices are going to double in the next few years,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said. He said that the State could experience overall growth when people from all communities were given equal opportunities.
