The Rs. 1,500-crore Guddada Mallapur Lift Irrigation Project, which will irrigate 13,000 acres in 22 villages of Byadgi taluk of Haveri district, was formally dedicated to the State by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here recently.
Subsequently, the Chief Minister also performed bhoomi puja for the Kaginele Lift Irrigation Project.
Addressing a gathering at Kanaka Kala Bhavan in Kaginele, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that with the launch of the project, the process of filling up 22 tanks in Byadgi taluk had been initiated.
He said that the State government had given priority to irrigation and had planned to spend Rs. 50,000 crore in a span of five years. Additonally, Rs. 500 crore had been earmarked for agricultural ponds.
He said already 136 taluks had been declared as drought-hit and Hangal taluk too would be included in the list.
The Chief Minister appealed to the farmers not to commit suicide as the State government was there to help them.
Minister for Water Resources M.B. Patil and said that tenders had already been floated for Hangal Basapur Lift Irrigation Project.
Minister for Cooperation and Sugar H.S. Mahadeva Prasad said that Rs. 1.5 crore had been released to Haveri district for drought relief. A host of elected representatives were present.Mr. Siddaramaiah also visited the house of farmer Naganagouda Basanagouda Patil of Ingalagondi in Byadgi taluk, who had committed suicide recently, and handed over a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh to the wife of the deceased.
