MB Patil wants solar power units along canals

Kalaburagi: Minister for Water Resources, M B Patil on Monday invited entrepreneurs to set up solar power units on vast tracts of empty canal systems running for hundreds of kilometers in the state .

Interacting with the media after inspecting the modernization work of the Bennethora irrigation project here, Mr Patil noted that over 800 acres of land was available in the Narayanapur dam area alone. “We are also ready to give the entire canal network to those who want to install solar power panels,” he offered.

Referring to the success of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam’s (KBJNL) one megawatt pilot project on the Narayanapura Right Bank Canal (NRBC), he said it planned to generate about 400 MWs of solar energy involving private entrepreneurs.  

To a query, he said his department had already begun construction of headways and canals  to make use of the state’s share of the Krishna water after  the height of the Almatti dam was raised   from 519.6 meters to 524.26 meters. “In the past we were lagging behind Andhra in completing irrigation projects. But now we are ahead. As against the earlier estimation of Rs 1,700 crore, we need about Rs 50,000 crores to complete the project and  acquire 1.33 lakh acres for raising the dam’s height,” he added.

The minister pointed out that although the Krishna Waters Dispute Tribunal headed by Brijesh Mishra had dismissed Andhra’s objection to raising the height of the dam, no notification had been issued yet. “Moreover the special leave petition filed by  Andhra is also pending before Supreme Court. The state government has advised senior advocate, F S Nariman to get the SLP vacated at the earliest. We are  prepared to make use of our share of water in the UKP III project over the next three years,” he added.

The minister also said his department had taken up an ambitious programme to modernise dams with the Rs 270 crore assistance it had received from the Centre.