According to the Minister for Water Resources, Mr H.K. Patil, the Karnataka state government has completed 12 medium irrigation projects at a cost of Rs.2,125 crore. These projects are expected to irrigate about 4.1 lakh acres of land. This was stated at a ‘meet the press’ programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore.

Work on some of the 12 projects was initiated more than 20 years ago but could not be completed due to lack of funds. These pending projects, taken up in the past two years, are expected to be commissioned soon.

Among the projects that have been completed are Harinala in Belgaum district; Hirehalla in Koppal; Maskinala in Raichur; Yagachi in Hassan, Hallimysore lift irrigation, Somwarpet lift irrigation, Amaraja and Bennithora.

The minister also stated that another Rs.3,000 - Rs.4,000 crore is required to complete 34 on-going projects in the state. This list of projects includes those in the basins of the Cauvery, the Krishna, the Godavari and the Pennar. These projects are expected to irrigate about six lakh hectares of land.

Finances for these projects would be brought in by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam and the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam in addition to budgetary allocations. These 34 projects, cleared two years ago, are expected to be completed by 2005.