When Will the Karnataka Government Decide on Land Compensation for the Upper Krishna Project?

Bengaluru, Sep 6 (NationPress) Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged farmers to refrain from seeking judicial intervention regarding compensation for the Krishna Upper Bank Project Phase III, emphasizing that such actions would lead to avoidable delays. He has scheduled a meeting within the upcoming week to finalize land compensation rates.

Addressing the media after performing Ganga Pooja and Bagina at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir in Almatti, an event organized by the Water Resources Department alongside Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited, CM Siddaramaiah remarked: “A prior meeting in Belagavi with farmer representatives yielded positive outcomes, leading to governmental agreement.”

“Recently, the Deputy Chief Minister convened a discussion with local farmers and MLAs, moving towards a consent order. A consensus among all stakeholders will lead to the resolution of this matter within the week,” he added.

In the third phase of the Krishna Upper Bank Project, the dam's elevation will increase from 519.6 meters to 524.25 meters, enabling the storage of 130 TMC of water and its efficient utilization.

Approximately 173 TMC of water will be available for irrigation across 6.6 lakh hectares of farmland. While a decision regarding Phase III has been made, the Gazette notification is pending. Once issued, construction of irrigation and dam elevation works will begin, he explained.

“These topics have been deliberated upon three times with Union ministers and the Prime Minister. The Deputy Chief Minister has engaged with them five times. Our focus is on irrigation. It is imperative that farmers benefit, their lands receive sufficient water, agricultural yields increase, and their livelihoods improve. This is our mission, and we are dedicated to achieving it,” stated the Chief Minister.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar mentioned that despite the Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam having offices in Vijayapura and Bengaluru, its primary goal is to serve farmers’ interests.

“We aim to prevent the wastage of Krishna waters into the ocean and instead channel it into agricultural use. Both the Chief Minister and I are aligned in this vision, and we are committed to making it a reality,” he remarked.

When questioned about establishing a medical college in Vijayapura, the Chief Minister indicated that there are plans to create a medical college and hospital in each district of Karnataka.

“This initiative will be rolled out in phases. In the 2025–26 budget, decisions will be made regarding medical colleges in Bagalkot, Mangaluru, Kolar, and subsequently in Vijayapura. Following the Centre’s regulations, these institutions will be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, ensuring treatment is accessible at government rates,” he clarified.

Responding to inquiries about the damage caused by floods in the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district and the Doni River in Vijayapura, Siddaramaiah assured that the government is committed to implementing long-term solutions to safeguard farmers.