Siddu says huge cost escalation in minor irrigation works

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah disclosed that there had been massive cost escalation in minor irrigation works since 2018 when a Congress-JD(S) coalition government had been in power.

The CM said that the cost had risen more than three times the amount allocated in the Budget, adding that the Bills incurred and the ones that were due had been huge as a result.

He hinted that the works that had not been started could be delayed indefinitely due to lack of resources. He made the comments in the backdrop of the review meeting of the minor irrigation department at his home office Krishna in Bengaluru on Thursday.

“Back in 2018, the pending bills under the minor irrigation department had been Rs 440 crore. By the end of September, this amount has risen to Rs 3,036 crore. In the past two years, the bill amount has increased three times more than what was allocated in the Budget. In this context, a decision will be taken on works that are yet to begin,” Siddaramaiah said.

“The amount required to carry out the approved works in the department by April 1, 2023 had been Rs 2,203 crores. The total cost by the date 31-3-2023 came to Rs 9,602 crores. The amount required to carry out the remaining work for 2023-24 is Rs 12,696 crores. Moreover, the outstanding amount required to finish the approved works is Rs 11,904 crores. If the work has started, ensure that it is continued. Leave aside the works that have not started,” the CM told officials.

Siddaramaiah also declared that robust Budget allocations had been made to boost lake development adding that the funds would go into developing 34,000 water bodies.

He also suggested that minor and major irrigation departments be given the authority to give out fishing licenses.

Science centres in limbo

that the setting up of sub-regional science centres in six tier two cities was pending because the Science and Technology department acquiring land for the same had taken a long time Siddaramaiah revealed the information in a review meeting of Science and Technology department works.

Minister for Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology NS Boseraju was present during the meeting.

“The setting up of subregional science centres in Sirsi, Belagavi, Hassan, Madikeri and Gadag cities has been stalled due to problems in acquiring land for the same. Now that the land has been acquired, construction of the same should be started soon,” Siddaramaiah said.