Kundapur: With the demand for water from the Varahi irrigation project, Udupi farmers who were on a protest since January 1have postponed their protest after meeting the Ministers of the state government here on January 16.
The ministers included Revenue Minister V. Srinivasa Prasad, Forests Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Major and Medium Irrigation Minister M.B. Patil and Urban Development and district in-charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, who participated in the review meeting with farmers at KPC hall in Hosangadi.
MB Patil assured that by April 1st 2015, 5,600 hectares of farm land would get water from Varahi Irrigation project. At present 18.2 km in Right Bank Canal, 8 km in Left Bank Canal and 24 km of work is covered in the distributor canal already, the ministers assured.
As per the demand of the local farmers, a detailed project was presented and explained to them by the officials.
It was also learnt that issues related to land acquisition and deemed forests would be sorted out at the earliest, a scientific verification will be conducted regarding the same and a booklet will be released with complete survey report and project plan.
A coordination committee will be formed under Deputy Conservator of Forest and Assistant Commissioner and they will be answerable to the public and the officials regarding the progress of the project, the ministers affirmed during the meeting.
Major and Medium Irrigation Minister M.B. Patil assured that government is committed to finish the work of 32 km in Left Bank Canal (LBC) by December 2015. 5600 acres of farmland would get the benefit after the completion of the LBC work, which is expected to finish by April 2016.
He added that Major and Medium Irrigation department had taken the project on the March 15, 2004. Initially the project was only for irrigation project. Later the proposal was converted into multipurpose and finally it is now designed to be the only irrigation project, again.
Revenue minister, Srinivas Prasad said that as only 40% of the land has been acquired, still around 60% more is needed. There are issues related to Land Acquisition Act of 2014 which will be sorted accordingly. Compensation will be given after the submission of appropriate documents, there are provisions for online applications too. He added that the government will give enough staff and job security for the project/
Ramanath Rai , Forests Minister said that with the deemed forest clearance for 129 hectares of land, Varahi has no deemed forest issues. There is a demand for another 30 hectares of land for the project which is earmarked under deemed forest which will be done in another 4-5 months. He guided the officials to arrange a district level meet for Varahi to have an updation on the work progress, it will be easy for anyone to understand the situation
After Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake urged protesters to stop the indefinite dharna in front of the chief engineer office. the District Raitha Sangha president and MLC Pratap Chandra Shetty agreed to stop the protest.
http://seeandsaynews.in/tulunadu/udupi/2843-varahi-agitators-postpone-protest-after-meeting-state-ministers.html
No comments:
Post a Comment