NEWS

The high-powered committee set up by the Union Government has approved the proposal to declare the Upper Bhadra Project as a national project, which would enable the State to get a ₹12,500 crore grant from the Centre to implement it

UPPER BHADRA PROJECT

WHAT – Major lift irrigation Scheme

AIM –

• Irrigate 2.25 lakh hectares in Chitradurga, Davangere, Tumakuru, and parts of Chikkamagaluru
• Providing sustainable irrigation facility in Kharif season
• Recharge the groundwater table, dilute the chemical contaminants of which Fluoride is predominant

LAUNCHED IN – 2000

OTHER DETAILS

Envisages lifting of water in first stage from Tunga to Bhadra and lifting of water in second stage from Bhadra reservoir and providing it to Tunnel near Ajjampura through gravity canal in Tungabhadra sub-basin of Krishna basin

NATIONAL PROJECT STATUS

• By – Central Water Commission (CWC)
• Only projects covering over 2 lakh hectares under drip irrigation
• Receive funding from the Centre if they receive national project status.
• Criteria
  • International projects where usage of water in India is required by a treaty or where planning and early completion of the project is necessary in the interest of the country.
  • Interstate projects are dragging on due to non resolution of Inter-State issues relating to sharing of costs, rehabilitation, aspects of power production etc., including river interlinking projects.
  • Intra-State projects with additional potential of more than 2,00,000 hectare (ha) and with no dispute regarding sharing of water and where hydrology is established

BHADRA RIVER

• ORIGIN – Gangamoola near Kudremukha, Western Ghats range
• Flows east across the southern part of Deccan Plateau
• Tributaries – Somavahini Thadabehalla, and Odirayanahalla
• Bhadra Dam is built across the river at BRP -Bhadravathi, Karnataka, which forms the Bhadra reservoir (186 ft)
• River continues its journey through the city of Bhadravathi, Karnataka
• Meets the Tunga River at Koodli, a small town near Shivamogga