6. KURIYARKUTTY -KARAPPARA
Kuriarkutty - Karappara is one of the multi-purpose medium irrigation projects in Kerala. The project envisages construction of a storage dam at Karappara and a diversion weir at Kuriarkutty. The scheme envisages to irrigate Kozhinjampara - a drought prone area of Palakkad District. Both Kuriyarkutty and Karappara are tributaries of Chalakkudy river.
The physical target set forth for the project is to irrigate an ayacut of 17488 ha. (net) and 34976 ha. (gross). Apart from irrigation, the scheme visualises power generation.
The investigation of the work commenced on 1969 and was completed in 1994. Sanction was accorded to the project by Irrigation (ISW) Department vide G.O.(MS) No.116/95/Lr. dated 25-10-1995.
The original estimated cost of the project was Rs.100 crores. The revised estimated cost comes to Rs.197.24 crores as per 1999 schedule of rates.
The execution of the project commenced in July 1995. The improvement works in branch canal almost completed. The required land upto Ch: 16 has been surrendered by the farmers free of cost. Construction of canal from 0 to 2010 m has already been completed.
The year-wise fund required as per the revised schedule is given below:
(Rs in crores)The expenditure incurred upto 31.3.2001 was Rs.11.93 crores. The work-wise and purpose-wise break-up has not been furnished. Therefore an assessment as to the percentage of fund utilised for the works and for meeting the establishment costs of the project is not possible.There was major deviation from the original design to avoid a tunnel in alignment.
The reasons for the slow progress in the implementation of the schemes as reported by the Executive Engineer were lack of finance and staff members. Vigilance cases pending with the court too accounted for the slow pace of implementation. Central Water Commission has directed to submit a modified Project Report combining the power and Irrigation part for approval. Action is under way for the preparation of a combined project report. As the Central Water Commission has not accorded sanction for construction of head works in the power sector, the project came to a standstill position.
Suggestions
- Steps may be taken to complete the modified project report continuing power and irrigation part for submission to CWC for approval.
- As the land has been acquired for the canal construction and works have already been started, it is better to stop the construction at a convenient stage. The construction may be resumed after the head structure is completed.