Chikkamagaluru: Fifty years after villagers first sought irrigation from the Bhadra backwaters, the Honnekodige lift irrigation scheme in Narasimharajapura taluk remains stalled as forest department has not granted permission to lay a pipeline through forest land.The project is intended to irrigate 1,200 acres. However, work stopped because forest clearance is required to lay a pipeline through 1.7 hectares of forest land between the Bhadra backwaters and an overhead tank meant to irrigate Saluru.The issue dates back to 1958, when the Bhadra dam was built at Lakkavalli to provide water to dry areas. Several villages in the Bhadra backwaters were submerged, leading to the creation of new villages, including Gandadur, Honnekodige, Bilalukoppa, Saluru and Varkatte.Since agriculture was entirely rain-dependent, village elders proposed using the Bhadra backwaters for irrigation. Former taluk board member ES Krishnaiah submitted the first memorandum in 1978 to then irrigation minister DB Chandregowda. Irrigation officials surveyed the area and estimated that 1,200 acres could be irrigated through the lift scheme.The project was later included under the Bhadra lift irrigation project. In 1991, permission to draw water from Bhadra was granted and a tender was called.In 2008, when DN Jeevaraj was MLA, the govt sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for the project. “The contractor built a jack well, pump house and laid pipes,” explained former taluk panchayat president Jayanthi Yadagere.She said 1.7 hectares of forest land comes in the way of laying the pipeline from the Bhadra backwaters to the overhead tank to irrigate Saluru. “Since the pipeline passes through forest land, forest clearance was required and work was stopped. Till date, no clearance has been given,” she said.Former taluk board member ES Krishnayya and villagers have continued to pursue the matter with elected representatives and forest officials, but the project remains incomplete. Pipes brought for the scheme are lying abandoned. Some are damaged and some have been stolen. The jack well and pump house have become waste.On Feb 12 this year, when then CM Siddaramaiah visited Narasimharajapura, a memorandum was submitted seeking forest clearance for the scheme.A forest officer said the issue had been brought to the notice of higher authorities. “A detailed proposal has been sent to top officials in Bengaluru and it is pending before them,” the officer added.According to MLA TD Rajegowda, the project remains incomplete due to the stringent Forest Right Act. He said efforts are being made to pursue the project.Villagers have demanded that elected representatives and officials secure forest clearance and complete the project.
