Kalaburagi
Karnataka will give priority to implementing groundwater recharge projects across all 224 Assembly constituencies by adopting the Shirpur model of Maharashtra, Small Irrigation, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Ajay Singh said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at the KKRDB office, Singh said projects including lake filling, lift irrigation, bridge-cum-barrages, check dams and gokattas would be taken up to improve groundwater levels. A dashboard detailing the projects planned in each constituency will soon be launched, he said.
The Small Irrigation Department has received Rs 3,333 crore for 2026-27. Of the 3,810 lakes under the department, 925 have been identified for filling. The minister said 687 barrages, check dams and vented dams constructed in recent years have provided irrigation facilities to 40,316 hectares.
In Kalyana Karnataka, eight lift irrigation projects estimated at Rs 1,811 crore are under implementation to fill around 88 lakes. Another Rs 225 crore has been earmarked for groundwater recharge works in 25 Assembly constituencies.
In Kalaburagi district, three lift irrigation projects costing Rs 343 crore are being implemented to fill around 19 lakes. Singh also announced plans to establish a planetarium, science centre and science city in Kalaburagi in consultation with the Science and Technology Department.
He said groundwater conservation would receive special attention amid the possibility of drought conditions and awareness programmes would be conducted among students, farmers and the public.