Rs 235 Crore Flowing: Vijayapura Farms to Get Long-Awaited Irrigation

In a significant development for agriculture in Vijayapura, two new lift irrigation schemes will soon bring much-needed water to nearly 24,000 acres of high-altitude farmland.

Backed by Rs 235 crore in state government funding, the projects aim to serve ten water-scarce villages under the Babaleshwar branch canal system, including Nidoni, Nagaraj, Dashyal, Halagani, Kakhandaki, Tiganibidari, Yekkundi, Hokkundi, Arjunagi, Hebbalatti, Kumathe, Kalabilagi, Gothe, Gadyal, and Todalbagi.

District in-charge and Major Industries Minister MB Patil, who secured the funding, recently launched the initiative. He noted that while water has been lifted up to 640 metres, villages like Nidoni remain dry due to their higher elevation (650–652 metres). "With the implementation of Lift 5A and 5B, we can now reach these villages using a jackwell system," he said.

Approved by the Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL), the projects will be executed in two parts:

Lifts 5A and 5B, costing Rs 127.1 crore, will irrigate 10,037 acres via a 124.7 km and 13.7 km pipeline distribution network respectively.

Distributary Canal No. 15, with an additional Rs 108 crore allocation, will cover another 13,118 acres.

Once completed in two years, the initiative is expected to greatly enhance agricultural output and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region long challenged by erratic water supply.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.