1.16 lakh hectares of land to be brought under irrigation by completing 37 ongoing projects

The State Budget has proposed to prioritise the completion of 37 ongoing schemes with an aim to bring 1.16 lakh hectares of land under irrigation. The proposed works include 12 irrigation projects, 22 tank-filling schemes, and extension, repair, and modernisation projects that are nearing completion.

The Budget has further stated that 75 irrigation works amounting to ₹8,045 crore will be implemented in the Krishna, Cauvery, Godavari, and other river basins.

Describing the dismissal of petitions filed by Tamil Nadu by the Supreme Court with regard to the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project as a “significant legal victory” for Karnataka, the Budget says that a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with a proposal for forest clearance will be submitted shortly to the Centre.

It also states that the remaining 18.73-km-long canal works in the second phase of the Yettinahole Comprehensive Drinking Water Project will be completed shortly. Similarly, it says that the land acquisition process for increasing the height of Almatti Dam from 519.6 m to 524.256 m will commence this year.

The Budget has reiterated that the replacement of 33 dilapidated gates of the Tungabhadra Dam with new gates will be completed before the onset of monsoon. Efforts will be intensified to implement a timely alternative scheme in consultation with the neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with the concurrence of the Tungabhadra Board, to solve the problem of deficit in storage of this reservoir due to accumulation of silt, it says.