The Command Area Development Authority (CADA) under the Cauvery basin was expected to receive grants of Rs 75.84 crore during the present year. But, the amount released to it till October 2011 is hardly 10 per cent of that.
During the first half of fiscal 2011-12, it received Rs 5.67 crore from the government, while it has taken up works at a cost of Rs 5.96 crore. This was revealed by CADA Chairman D Ramalingaiah in a release.
The projected grants to CADA during the year covers Rs 29 crore under the Central Plan schemes, Rs 25.64 crore under the state plan and Rs 21 crore under special development schemes, totaling Rs 75.84 crore.
After facing a shortage of funds for 4-5 years, the CADA saw its position improve with a slightly higher allocation of Rs 21.50 crore for 2010-11. Of this amount, it has received Rs 20.17 crore and spent Rs 18.35 crore for works like providing field irrigation channels, crop demonstrations, land development training programmes, reclamation of water-logged land for cultivation, housing and go-down constructions.
“It has also taken up conversion of 4,444 ha barren land into agricultural land at a cost of Rs 10 crore during 2011-12,” he said.
“CADA has proposed to distribute farm implements like spraying machines, tarpaulins, submersible pumpsets and kerosene or diesel-run pumpsets to farmers belonging to SC and ST categories at a cost of Rs 5.25 crore under special component plan and also enlist them as members of water users’ co-operative societies bearing their membership fee. It is proposed to enlist 7,030 SC-ST farmers to these societies at a cost of Rs 7.03 lakh during the present year,” he said.
In all, 627 water users’ societies are formed under CADA, which is based in Mysore. Of them, 323 societies have signed memorandum of understanding with the authority. Rs 6.06 crore has been sanctioned to 180 societies so far as grants, Ramalingaiah added.
Established in 1974, CADA covers major Cauvery basin projects like Krishnarajasagar, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathi, Nugu and 15 medium irrigation projects including Byramangala, Gundal, Kanva, Marconahalli, Machanabele, Taraka and Votehole covering Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Hassan, Mandya and Tumkur districts.
CAD programmes were started in Karnataka in pursuance of the polices of the Government of India with the objective of ensuring rapid and optimum utilisation of irrigation potential created under major and medium irrigation projects and to increase agriculture production. The main objective of the CAD is to reduce gap between potential area created and actual area utilised.
The Government of India provides assistance for carrying out central sector CAD schemes, while the State for schemes which do not attract Central funding.
