An amount of ₹ 588.85 crore is earmarked for Irrigation, flood control and coastal zone management in the State Budget presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on February 5 (Monday). The Minister said that the provision was ₹ 63.40 crore more than that of last year.
Substantial amounts have been allocated for major and minor irrigation projects, such as ₹35 crores for the Idamalayar project, ₹ 12 crore (inclusive of the RIDF loan) for Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project, ₹ 32 crore for Karapuzha Project and ₹ 25 crore for the Banasura Sagar Project. Besides, ₹ 14 crore is earmarked for the reconstruction of Pattissery Dam and canal system.
A new scheme was announced for the construction of weir and forebay tank at Thalachoorkadavu and diversion of Chengalar Project from Thalachoorkadavu to Pattisseri Dam. An allocation of ₹ 11.10 crore has been made for the renovation of channels of Chittur puzha, Malampuzha, Mangalam, Pothundy, Kuttyadi, Gayathri and Valayar projects under the scheme ‘Modernisation of field channels and drains of CADA canals’.
