A two-member team from the Central Water Commission
(CWC), monitoring minor irrigation projects in the region, has expressed
satisfaction over the quality of work and the progress of projects in
Bidar and Gulbarga districts.
The team, comprising R.
Azhagesan, Director (Appraisal) and J. Harsha, Deputy director
(Appraisal), said the projects, funded under the Accelerated Irrigation
Benefit Programme (AIBP), were implemented as per norms fixed by the
Water Resources Ministry.
They inspected Thana
Kushnoor (west) barrage works in Aurad taluk of Bidar district on
Tuesday, a unique check-dam with silt flushing system at Dhannur in
Basavakalyan taluk in Bidar, the barrage at Sungtan at Basavakalyan, and
the bridge-cum-barrage across the Gadorinala, on the border along Bidar
and Gulbarga districts on Wednesday, as well as barrages at Hudgi and
Hallikhed in Humnabad taluk.
In Gulbarga district,
the team inspected the bridge-cum-barrages at Malkood in Chittapur
taluk, and Ranjole, Bhootpur and Gundalli in Sedam taluk, as well as the
barrage at Madhwar and praised officials for the work.
‘Improvement’
Speaking to
The Hindu
at Malkood, team leader Mr. Azhagesan said there had been great
improvement in the work. “We are fully satisfied with the quality of the
construction.”
He said Karnataka stood third in
utilisation of AIBP funds. The north zone of the State’s Minor
Irrigation Department was in the forefront of this, he added.
Criticism
However,
Mr. Azhagesan expressed dissatisfaction at the failure of officials to
constitute water users’ associations in the minor irrigation projects in
the north zone. “We have given strict instructions that in all minor
irrigation projects funded by AIBP, the associations should be
constituted and maintenance of the projects handed over to them
immediately.”
At almost all the places the team went
to, farmers enthusiastically welcomed them and explained how the
projects had helped improve their situation.
The team
then left for Yadgir district, to see the implementation of work at the
barrage near Bandallivillage (Yadgir taluk), an anicut near Wadagera,
and the bridge-cum-barrage at Shirwal (both of them in Shahpur taluk).
Advice for farmers
Bidar Special Correspondent reports:
During
its visit, the team urged farmers to form water users’ societies under
the cooperative model to ensure optimum utilisation of water. Adopting a
calendar of water impounding and release, and a matrix of suitable
crops for the region with water supply, would be beneficial, Mr.
Azhagesan said.
He said that of the 121 minor
irrigation works planned in the district, funds had been released for
67. Of these, 32 projects that can irrigate 2,752 hectares had been
completed, he said.
He advised officials to speed up work taken up under the later phases of AIBP.
In
cases where work was delayed because of disputes regarding land
ownership, among other problems, the team advised farmers to resolve the
issues by taking village residents into confidence and seek the
cooperation of the district administration and gram panchayats.
More:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/work-on-minor-irrigation-projects-praised/article3940822.ece
