Karnataka Requests ₹11,122 Crore Aid for Six Irrigation Projects

Rapid Summary

• Karnataka has requested ₹11,122 crore in financial assistance from the Central government for six irrigation projects.
• Specific sums requested include:

– ₹804.66 crore for Sonnatti lift irrigation project.
– ₹2,666.7 crore for Upper Krishna Project’s Indi branch canal.- ₹3,000 crore each for Malaprabha canal third stage and Ghataprabha right bank canal.
– ₹1,444.42 crore for Chikkodi branch canal project.
– ₹1,610 crore for flood mitigation and management at Bennehalla.

• Deputy CM D.K Shivakumar said one of the projects is apparently approved but awaits official confirmation.
• On the Upper Bhadra project: Revised estimates submitted seeking over ₹5,300 crore; Center has not yet credited funds despite assurances.
• Mekedatu drinking water project: Karnataka urged Centre to approve detailed appraisal report and provide a court submission; Jal Shakti Minister promised dialog with Tamil Nadu government on this matter.
• Yettinahole Project: karnataka seeks classification as a drinking water initiative with a request for 25% funding from the Centre.
• challenges reported include halted work in Tumakuru and Hassan due to Forest Department’s land clearance disputes.

Indian opinion Analysis
the allocation of considerable resources towards multiple irrigation and drinking water initiatives indicates Karnataka’s strategic push to address pressing agricultural, drought mitigation, and inter-state water-sharing challenges effectively. Clearances from central agencies remain crucial roadblocks across multiple projects-a point underscored by delays with the Yettinahole project’s classification or forest clearance issues interrupting local progress.

While Karnataka presses demands diplomatically-highlighting long-pending approvals like that of Mekedatu-it also risks further straining inter-state relationships (e.g., Tamil Nadu) over shared resources if consensus-building falters at federal levels.

As thes projects span critical sectors impacting farmers’ livelihoods and also urban-rural drinking needs (Yettinahole/Mekedatu), swift resolution of bureaucratic hurdles will bolster broader economic stability and rural equity within affected districts while potentially amplifying national visibility on rainfall-deficit remedies amidst climate unpredictability.

Read More: Link Source