Mangaluru: A total of six lakes in the district will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4.75 crore said Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minor Irrigation Minister, here on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in the city, he said development of lakes would involve removal of slush and weeds, strengthening the walls and stopping the flow of sewage water to the lakes.  “In total, 194 lakes will be developed in the state. Out of which, six will be developed in the district.

The tender has been already processed, and in some places, the works have already begun”, he said.

Among the lakes identified are Gujjarakere in Jeppinamogaru and Ganjimatta lake which is in Mangaluru North constituency, he said.

The development of lakes is part of the state government’s plan to develop one lake each year in every district, he added.

Lake Development Authority

The State Government has already agreed to start a Lake Development Authority, which will be headed by the minister of Minor Irrigation. As of now, the rules are being framed by the Legal Department, he said.

“In the month of January, we will conduct a drive to ensure the lakes falling in our department’s jurisdiction are cleared of encroachments”, he said. Among the 1,973 lakes in south Karnataka, 68 lakes are encroached upon, he added.

Check dams

Tangadagi said that a total of 416 major and minor check-dams would be set up at regular distances in five districts in the state including Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Bijapur to harvest rainwater and increase underground water levels along the lines of a similar project undertaken by Rajendra Singh in the parched areas of Rajasthan.

Besides, a new developmental plan had been sketched for the construction of Salt Water Exclusion Dams (SWED) at 77 existing vented dams in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts mainly to help with irrigation during the summer months and also to check entry of seawater, he said.