1,793-crore development push for Mandya; irrigation gets priority

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday launched development works worth ₹1,793.74 crore in Mandya district, with emphasis on irrigation, agriculture, healthcare, education and infrastructure. Later, addressing a function organised by the district administration and Zilla Panchayat at the Mandya University campus, Mr.

Shivakumar said the government was committed to the overall development of the district and safeguarding farmers’ interests. Among the major announcements was a proposal to establish a 100-bed hospital modelled on the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mandya.

He said officials had been directed to take necessary steps to prepare a plan for the facility. The 100-bed mother and child hospital at Hosur Colony was also ready for inauguration. On irrigation, the Chief Minister said the government had decided to allocate ₹806 crore for filling lakes in Pandavapura, Nagamangala and K.R.

Pet taluks and undertaking canal repair and construction works. Another ₹224 crore had been earmarked for modernising canals in Mandya, Maddur, Srirangapatna and Pandavapura taluks. The government was also taking steps to ensure that water from the KRS reservoir reached farmers’ fields in tail-end areas, including Malavalli and Maddur, he said.

On the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, Mr. Shivakumar said its implementation would make 66 tmcft of water available for use during distress years in the old Mysuru region, including Mandya, Mysuru and Hassan districts.

Referring to the concerns of sugarcane growers, he said the government had discussed the issue with Ministers and decided to provide an additional ₹50 per tonne from the government and ₹150 per tonne from sugar factories to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.

Mr. Shivakumar said sugar prices had remained unchanged for nearly 10 years, while the cost of agricultural production had doubled. If the Centre fixed the sugar price at ₹50, he would take responsibility for ensuring a fair price for sugarcane growers, he added.

On the revision of milk prices, he said the decision to increase the price was aimed at providing farmers an additional ₹7 per litre to offset the rising costs of cattle feed, oil cakes and medicines. However, he said Opposition parties were objecting to such decisions.

The Chief Minister said ₹100 crore had been allocated for the Agriculture University at V.C. Farm in Mandya. The Cabinet had also approved works worth ₹60 crore for renovating the boiling house of the State-owned MySugar factory.

He said the Mandya Milk Union was producing an additional 1.5 lakh litres of milk daily and had sought permission to establish a Nandini ice-cream unit to prevent wastage. The government would provide approval and guidance soon, he said.

Minister in-charge of Mandya district and Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy said more than ₹10,000 crore had been provided for development works in Mandya over the past one-and-a-half years. Agriculture Minister P.M.

Narendraswamy said the government was committed to modernising the canals of the KRS reservoir and implementing the Mekedatu project to address irrigation concerns in the district. The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development works worth ₹1,793.74 crore and distributed benefits to eligible beneficiaries under various government schemes.

Ministers Rudrappa Lamani and others, MLAs P. Ravikumar, K.M. Uday, Ramesh Bandi Siddegowda and Darshan Puttannaiah, MLCs Dinesh Gooligowda and Madhu G. Madegowda, Deputy Commissioner Kumar and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R.

Nandini were present.