The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd for not adopting a proper water management mechanism in the Bhadra Reservoir Project area, where there was violation of crop pattern since 2006-07. This had adversely affected irrigation in lower reaches of the main canals, the report said.
According to the CAG report on “Performance Review of Modernisation of canal system of Bhadra Reservoir Project”, tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, there was a violation of crop pattern in irrigated area ranging from 66.83 per cent to 70.05 per cent of the total area.
“Farmers were growing non-notified wet crops such as paddy, sugarcane and garden crops which consumed more water as against notified semi-dry crops,” the report said. Some farmers were seen cultivating such crops during khariff and rabi seasons as sufficient water was accessible to them.
The objective of audit was also to assess whether the intended objective of providing sufficient water to the entire command area including tail-end users was achieved with 61.70 tmc ft of water allocated as per Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal. However it was noticed that the utilisation of water was at an average of 74 tmc ft. The government has admitted to crop violation and has said the issue was being controlled by creating awareness.