UBP Phase 1 to be completed by 2013

BANGALORE: The controversial first phase of the Upper Bhadra Project (UBP) is expected to be complete by 2013, Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai said here on Tuesday. The minister addressed the media persons here and said that the project would fulfil the long-pending demand of water supply to Chitradurga, Kolar, Tumkur and Chickballapur districts.“The project envisages supplying water drawn in from both the Tunga and Bhadra rivers and irrigate over one lakh acres of land. The project is designed to supply water to over 50 tanks in the command area of the Upper Bhadra project,” he said.He refused to comment on the charges of corruption in clearing the financial bid of the project as the matter is before the Lokayukta. “All the preliminary process to take up the second phase of the UBP is underway and global tenders would be called soon.”It may be recalled that the Upper Bhadra Project which was allocated about 23 TMC of water by the tribunal headed by Justice Bachawath on the Krishna river dispute way back in the 1970’s, is still languishing following opposition from the people of Shimoga, Chickmagalur and Davanagere districts.