A team of scientists from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, will visit the State to decide whether the government should go ahead with the cloud seeding programme or not, following deficient rainfall so far.
Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai told mediapersons here on Thursday that Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda reviewed the drought situation here on Wednesday.
No decision had been taken on cloud seeding since the Meteorology Department officials predicted wide-spread rainfall in the State after July 10.
Asked about the cloud seeding plan, the Minister said the decision on would be taken after consultations with weather scientists of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, who would visit the State next week.
Directorate
The State Government had proposed to establish a Directorate for Command Area Development Authorities in the State to monitor works of all six Command Area Development Authorities (CADAs), Mr. Bommai said. The Karnataka Command Area Development Act would be amended by introducing a Bill in the next session of the State legislature to set up the Directorate.
There are six CADA regions in the State — Tungabhadra, Munirabad; Malaprabha and Ghataprabha, Belgaum; Cauvery basin irrigation projects, Mysore; Upper Krishna Project; Bhadra Reservoir Project, Shimoga; and Irrigation Project Zone, Gulbarga.
The directorate would be given more powers to plans various works to be taken up by CADAs during the year as well as to supervise execution of works.
Canal works
Mr. Bommai said a plan had been prepared to take up feeder canals works to extend irrigation to seven lakh hectares. In 2012-13, Rs. 620 crore has been set aside for six CADA regions to ensure irrigation to 1.5 lakh hectares. At present, the irrigated land in the State is 28 lakh hectares.
