Chikkamagaluru: Karnataka Legislative Council member C.T. Ravi has directed officials to immediately repair and restart irrigation infrastructure after finding maintenance lapses during an inspection of two projects in Chikkamagaluru district.
Ravi inspected the pump house of the project aimed at filling the Lakya Madarasana tank from the Bairapura pickup weir and areas covered by the Karagada Lift Irrigation Project.
During the inspection, he found that transformer maintenance was inadequate, several motors were not functioning and canals had been affected by silt and overgrown vegetation. Ravi said the lapses were affecting the flow of water to the tanks.
He contacted the concerned executive engineer and other officials and instructed them to rectify the power supply system, restart the non-functional motors and clear silt and vegetation from the canals.
Officials were specifically directed to ensure uninterrupted water flow to tanks near Kalsapura village, besides the Thimmappana and Ishwarahalli tanks.
Around ₹28 crore has been spent on the lift irrigation project to fill the Lakya Madarasana tank from the Bairapura pickup weir, while another ₹9.5 crore was spent on the Karagada Lift Irrigation Project. The combined investment of ₹37.5 crore is intended to provide irrigation and water facilities to farmers and residents in the region.
Ravi said projects created with substantial public funds should not remain underutilised because of maintenance issues, particularly when farmers depend on irrigation water.
“It is inexcusable for projects built at a cost of crores of rupees to come to a halt due to official negligence precisely when farmers need them most,” Ravi said, adding that officials were responsible not only for constructing irrigation projects but also for maintaining them and ensuring that their benefits reach the people.
He directed officials to take immediate corrective measures and restore water supply, stressing the importance of ensuring availability during the prevailing water-stress conditions.