Krishna Upper Bank Phase 3 requires ?87,818 crore for implementation: DCM

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that considering the estimates made during the tenure of the Bommai government, the implementation of the Krishna Upper Bank Phase 3 will require around ?87,818 crore. ''If we revise the current estimates, the cost will increase further,” he said during the Legislative Council's question hour on Thursday. He also disclosed that acquiring land for the third phase of the Krishna Upper Bank project had already begun in a single phase. “The combined budget of both major and minor irrigation departments is only ?22,000 crore.

However, we are committed to implementing this project. I, along with Minister for Minor Irrigation Bose Raju, met the Union Jal Shakti Minister during the Udaipur convention and also in Delhi to secure approval for the project. Prior to this, we have deliberated on the necessary legal frameworks,” he added. “We (both ruling and opposition parties) must work together to get the Krishna Upper Bank project declared a national project. Only then can we secure proper funding. I will prepare a proposal, and we should go to Delhi together,” Shivakumar said. “The courts have directed a compensation of ?10-12 crore per acre for some land. This also needs to be addressed.

There is pressure to proceed with acquisition even without approvals, and the government agrees with this. The Chief Minister himself has acknowledged it, and we have held discussions with local representatives. However, the matter must be formally recorded, and approvals from the finance and law departments are required,” he said. Pujar objected saying the budget allocated only 5% of the required funds.