CHECKING DEPLETION: Legislator N H Shivashankara Reddy launching the work on construction of a check dam across Uttara Pinakini river in Doddakurugodu of Gauribidanur taluk on Monday. DH Photo
Speaking after launching Rs 94-lakh work on construction of a below surface check dam across Uttara Pinakini river in Doddakurugodu village on Monday, the MLA said that each dam could recharge the groundwater in a radius of about 5 km and construction of ten check dams would thus help in replenishing the ground water table to a great extent. This in turn, would increase the water level in borewells. Reddy said that it costs Rs 250 crore to construct check dams in the limits of all Gram Panchayats in the taluk.
Sand mining
Uttara Pinakini river, which runs for 33 kms lacks check dams at few locations as a result of which ground water is depleting. The river water is reaching the tanks in Gangasandra, Gowdagere, Cheegatagere, Maraluru and Haluganahalli through canals.
A check dam was constructed to the river during the tenure of R L Jalappa as Lok Sabha member and R N Lakshmipathi as irrigation minister. Sand mining to a depth of 40 feet has also resulted in depletion of groundwater, he noted.
The MLA disclosed that a Rs 350-crore project has been formulated under Centrally-sponsored AIBP scheme and construction of minor canals, small tanks, interlinking check dams would be taken up at a cost of Rs 60 crore.
Union Govt
The Union government has released a sum of Rs 3 crore to develop Veerasoudha in Vidurshawatha. Tender process has already been completed and the work would commence soon. A sum of Rs 12 crore has been released to develop Bangalore-Hindupur and Sira-Mulbagal road which pass through Gauribidanur town.
A Rs 15-crore project has been sanctioned to the taluk under ‘Nirantara Vidyut’ scheme and when completed, the taluk would get an additional supply of three phase power for 12 hours.
Taluk Panchayat vice-president Prakash Reddy, Assistant Executive Engineer of Minor Irrigation Department G A Nawab Basha, Block Congress president G K Satish and others were present.
DH News Service