NewsKarnataka – Udupi

Udupi: “The left bank canal work in the Varahi irrigation project will be completed in the next 60 working days”, asserted M B Patil, the Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation.

Speaking at a press conference after inspecting the project, M B Patil informed that the project has incurred an expense of Rs 541 crores from the funds till date. The completion of 0-30 kilometers of left canal will be done in 60 working days and it would provide water to 7000 hectares of irrigation land.

He stated that there is a need of Rs 300 crore to Rs 400 crore for the completion of the project.

He further said that currently the 0-17 kms would be a common bank canal and the work is almost finished, however the completion of left bank canal from 30- 45kms would need another one year, which will provide water for nearly 10,000 hectares irrigation land, he added

The minister said that the right bank canal stretches towards 42.73 kms. The total project aims at providing water for 19092 hectares of irrigation land. Around 129 hectares of land is allocated for the project.

The aim of the Varahi project is to provide sufficient water for the sugarcane farmers, after finishing the left bank canal, Brahmavar sugar factory can be revived with 11 to 13 % recovery rate, he assured.

Jayasheela Shetty, chairman of Brahmavar sugar factory cooperative society said till date maximum recovery rate given to the farmer is 8.9 to 9%.

The locals demanded to finish the project at the earliest; they are tired with the pending project from the past 35 years, they said.