‘Less than 50 per cent of irrigation funds used’

Nagaraj Hongal, activist and general secretary of Bagalkot-based Jana Jadgruti Vedike, has said that despite the government granting a huge amount of funds for minor irrigation in last two years, less than 50 per cent had been utilised so far.

In a release here, said that the funds have not been transformed into project, owing to which, rain-fed areas were still deprived of water.

Mr. Hongal said that for 2013-14, the government earmarked Rs. 1,145.66 crore, while next the year it earmarked Rs. 1,485 crore, however, the government has so far utilised less than fifty percent of the allocated funds.

While last year’s funds have remained unutilised, the government, for 2015-16, has again earmarked more funds, which raises doubt over the full utilisation of the funds.

For 2014-15, Rs. 259.63 crore was earmarked for development, repair and restoration of lakes coming under the Minor Irrigation Department.

The government last year announced ‘Lake Development Scheme’ which aimed at developing one lake each in the Assembly Constituency by spending Rs. 1 crore on each lake. Mr. Hongal said that the objective was to irrigate at least two lakh hectares of land by developing the lakes, yet, not even two percent of the area had been covered under irrigation, he said.

Action plan

He said that an action plan of Rs. 192.30 crore was made to develop 193 lakes of the State. Even before any work started for utilising the funds, the government has announced one more Budget.

He demanded the government to first ensure that the funds earmarked and granted in previous years should be first utilised properly before granting more funds, the release added.