Work on the long-awaited renovation of three aqueducts of Varuna canal (D. Devaraj Urs canal) is expected to commence from the first week of January.
The Varuna Canal Construction Division had constructed aqueducts for the 124-km-long canal at Belagola in Mandya district and Siddalingapura and Gejjagalli in Mysuru district.
All the three aqueducts have developed major cracks, causing a loss of at least 25 cusecs of water a second. Therefore, the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd has decided to repair all the three aqueducts. According to sources, total loss of water is estimated to be about 20 lakh litres a day.
“We have drawn up a Rs. 3-crore project for the renovation of aqueducts,” Ramakrishna, Executive Engineer of Varuna Canal Construction Division of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd, told The Hindu.
Repair work
Mr. Ramakrishna told this correspondent over phone on Tuesday that the repair work would commence from January next and will be completed within a few months.
Of the three aqueducts, the one at Siddalingapura is said to have developed major breaches.
Old construction
The water keeps gushing out with all force and inundates nearby areas continuously there.
While children play in the resultant water-pools, people from nearby areas regularly wash their vehicles under the aqueducts.Most of the expansion joints fixed during the construction of aqueducts about 20 years ago have become dilapidated. “Because of the breaches, at least 25 cusecs of water is being wasted every day,” Mr. Ramakrishna said.
The Varuna Canal Construction Division would replace the expansion joints, set right the cracks with polymer technology, strengthen the retaining walls and take up other repair works of aqueducts, he said.
We have drawn up a Rs. 3-crore project for the renovation of aqueducts.
Ramakrishna,
Executive Engineer,
Varuna Canal Construction Division,
Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd
