Rs 240 cr granted for irrigation project at Belthangady

Belthangady: A grant of Rs 140 crore was granted by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday at a Cabinet meeting for a major irrigation project to be implemented at Mogru-Mugairadka in the Bandaru gram panchayat in the taluk here.

The Mogru-Mugairadka suspension bridge was flooded and later collapsed in August 2019. Since then the locals have been demanding a permanent bridge.

Prior to the 2019 floods, parts of the Dakshina Kannada district and the Belthangady taluk were facing drought.

Based on MLA Harish Poonja request for the implementation of an irrigation project in the Nethravathi River for a permanent solution to the water shortage faced by farmers during the summer months, Rs 40 lakhs was granted in 2020 for a DPR.

On Thursday the chief minister finally green-lighted the “Belthangady Irrigation Project.” A bridge will also be constructed as part of the project.

The project will benefit farmers in the villages of Pamparu, Ilantil, Moguru, Mugairadka, Kaniyoor, Uruvalu, Kaliya, Nayatarpu, Kuvettu, Odilnala located near the Netravathi River by making water available for al 365 days a year.