Grand event promised after KRS gate works

Mysuru: Karnataka shall hold a gala celebration after the completion of the sluice gate replacement of Krishnarajasagara reservoir chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said here on Wednesday.
After offering bagina to the river Cauvery at KRS dam after water levels attained its full capacity of 124.80 ft early this year, the CM said Rs 160 crore is being spent to replace 61 old sluice gates. A celebration will be held later, he said addressing the public at KRS dam site.
This is the second time in 10 months that the CM is conducting the pooja as the dam has reached its maximum level in mid-July, both of which are a history of sorts. The previous year the dam was filled to its brim in the last week of October and the traditional pooja of offering Bagina was done in November.
Bommai said when he was the water resources minister in 2008, water was seeping through the gates, and as a result about 300 cusecs of water was going waste. “Then, we as a team resolved to save every drop of water. On the contrary, there was pressure not to take up repair works,” the CM claimed.
“A meeting was scheduled soon after there were reports of seepage of water from the gates. Then about 16 gates were replaced. Still 61 gates need to be restored. After that we can hold a celebration,” Bommai said.
Meanwhile, the CM said, “We are fortunate that all the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin have filled to the brim in Ashada month itself. Cauvery is the lifeline of the old Mysuru region and it is our responsibility to utilize the water with caution, he said.
At Kabini dam site, where he offered pooja to the Kapila River, Bommai promised to complete irrigation promotion activities initiated by his government in Cauvery basin. Irrigation will be promoted in Hemavathi and Kabini command areas too, he said. He also promised to complete 100km of Kabini right bank canal development work that is pending for several years.
Water resources minister Govind Karjol, Mysuru district minister ST Somashekhar were present.