Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy has directed officials to complete delayed irrigation works in Belagavi district within a fixed timeline, with the Markandeya reservoir’s water loss and the improvement of its right-bank project receiving particular attention.
The direction was issued at a meeting in Bengaluru where the minister reviewed the progress of several water resources and irrigation projects in the district. Officials were asked to examine the problems affecting each project, identify the causes of delay and coordinate across departments and corporations to resolve them.
The Markandeya reservoir was a major focus of the meeting after the reported wastage of stored water was discussed. Cheluvarayaswamy instructed officials to conduct a technical assessment and take steps to prevent water from being lost through leakage or other causes. He said that water would reach farmers’ fields only if it was conserved in the reservoir, and warned that continued losses could also create difficulties for drinking water supplies in the future.
The minister also called for urgent action to find a permanent solution to the reservoir’s problems. The proposed revival work is expected to examine the structure of the reservoir, water leakage and other technical aspects before necessary rehabilitation measures are undertaken. The instructions covered not only strengthening the reservoir but also conserving every available unit of stored water.
Officials were further directed to review irrigation works in Belagavi that remain pending or incomplete at different stages. The minister said projects should not remain unfinished for years and asked the department to address the technical and administrative issues holding them up. He also said that beginning a project and leaving it incomplete raises questions about the use of public funds.
The meeting included a review of the Markandeya right-bank project, with officials asked to identify the obstacles preventing irrigation benefits from reaching farmers effectively. They were directed to examine the project’s current condition, pending works and operational problems, and to improve the system through necessary corrective works.
The instructions place coordination between departments and project agencies at the centre of the government’s response. Officials were asked to prevent further delays by resolving inter-departmental issues and monitoring progress on projects already under execution.
Public Works and Belagavi district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi attended the meeting and offered suggestions. Water Resources Department Secretary C. Satyanarayana and other officials were also present. The source report did not specify the financial outlay, technical design, completion deadline or revised schedule for the reservoir revival and right-bank project works.
