The Karnataka Niravari Vedike (KNV), a platform of organisations and individuals working on irrigational issues, has demanded that the State government construct the Nandavadagi lift irrigation canal at 590 RL (Reduced Level) instead of proposed 550 RL.
Addressing a media conference here on Monday, KNV president A.C. Chukanatti alleged that some ‘misinformed’ Congress leaders in the district, including Maski MLA Pratapgowda Patil, had pressured the State government to replace its original plan of constructing the canal at 590 RL canal with the one at 550 RL.
“The government had approved the project with the canal's elevation of 590 RL and the initial survey was also completed. Maski MLA Pratapgowda Patil, however, misjudged that the canal's planned elevation of 590 RL would irrigate more areas in Lingasugur taluk resulting in scarcity of water to his own constituency. He garnered support from other Congress leaders including MLC Sharanappa Mattur and succeeded in forcing the government to redesign the project so as to ensure that the elevation does not exceed 550 RL," he said.
With the reduction in elevation, Mr. Chukanatti said, 34,000 hectares of land in 30 villages in Mudgal area of Lingasugur taluk would be deprived of irrigation facilities.
“The initially planned project with 590 RL was meant for irrigating 70,000 hectares of lands in 61 villages. Now the redesigned project with 550 RL could irrigate only 36,100 hectares of lands in 30 villages only,” he said.
Referring to Lingasugur MLA Manappa Vajjal's recent remarks on the project, Mr. Chukanatti demanded that he clarify his stand on the issue. "Lingasugur MLA has demanded the government to immediately start the proposed Nadavadagi lift irrigation project. However, he has not clearly said whether he was satisfied with 550 RL or wants 590 RL. The MLA should demand for the originally planned project with an elevation of 590 RL as it would benefit more villages of his constituency," he said.
Mr. Naganagowda Patil Turudagi, president of KNV's Lingasugur unit, warned that people from all the 30 villages that would be deprived of irrigation facilities by the redesigned plan would lay siege to the office of Executive Engineer at Rodalabanda village on October 21 and disrupt the tender bid process scheduled for the day.
