HARANGI RESERVOIR IN DLIPIDATED CONDITION

Madikeri June 14: Harangi reservoir near Kushalnagar which provides irrigation to thousands of farmers in and outside Kodagu is being completely neglected by the officials and the public representatives. The reservoir is in dilapidated condition. The reservoir was constructed 30 years back. The purpose of the Govt was to irrigate about 56,776 hectares of farm land in Kodagu and outside kodagu.The total capacity of the dam is 8.5 tmc of water.The initial expenditure incurred for the construction was Rs. 410 crores.In addition crores of rupees is spent for the development, but all the schemes became waste due to improper work..

In support to the Harangi reservoir irrigation scheme Rs. 10 crore was spent for the lift irrigation scheme at Somwarpet.which is completely failed.Another Rs. 100 crore was spent towards lift irrigation at karadilakkana kere in Periapatna thaluk,which is not at all helpful for farmers.To increase the back water level another scheme was implemented at Chicklihole incurring a cost of Rs. 20 crores.But, the deadly scene at the project place clearly reveals the misuse of funds by the concerned officials and the contractors. Every year Govt sanctions special grants for the benefit of farmers. But, no counter check is done whether the facilities reach the poor farmers.

The officials have sent a wrong message to the Govt. and many monitoring offices in the harangi reservoir place are closed and are shifted to other places.The properties, machineries are being unoperated and becoming the hooligan properties without proper management. Meanwhile Govt has not cleared the old bills of the contractors. Fearing the consequences from the contractors, the concerned officials hesitate to attend their offices and are always hiding in secret places. About Rs. 25 crore bills pending for payment and the Govt is not clearing the amount. The canals for flow of irrigation water are also damaged and the repair work is not done.

Photo: Rusting Machines

Photo: Reservoir Becoming Like a Pond

Photo: Offices Covered with Shrubs