CHAPTER -2

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

2.3 Geographical Structure 2.4 Drainage Soils 2.5 Climate & Droughts

2.7 Temperature 2.8 Natural Vegetation

CHAPTER - 2

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF THE STUDY AREA

21 STUDY AREA :

The Bangalore Rural District is selected as study area and is

located in the southeastern corner of Karnataka state spamir~g a

Geographical Area of 5,814 square kms. and it forms about 3% of lhe

total area of the state. The population of the district is 16,65,468

(1991 Census). The district lies between the latitudinal parallels at

12"-15' N to 13"-35' N on the one hand and the longitudinal meridians

of 77"-05' E to 78"-10' E on the other.

Bangalore Rural District is composed of 8 Taluks, 35 Hoblies,

1,707 inhabited and 117 uninhabited villages, 9 towns and 103 mandal

panchayats. Kanakapura taluk is the largest taluk, with an area of

1,590.5 sq. kms. While Devanahalli is the smallest taluk in the district

with an area of 451 sq. kms. as per 1991 census.

The district is mainly drained by Arkavathi, the Kanva and the

Dakshina Pinakini are the tributary rivers which flow through the

district in the general direction from North to South. The lands of the

district forrns a part of Deccan plateau and rock formation belongs to

the category of peninsular gneiss. Granite gneisses that are found in

Kanakapura, Nelamangala, Devanahalli and Ramanagaram talulcs have

created captorating landscapes, all along this have provides jobs to

hundreds of people engaged in quarrying. The soils of the district are

the highly porous and sandy in nature. The Bangalore rural district is

not rich in mineral resources. The important nunerals which occur in

the district are asbestos, clays, granite, lime stone, quartzite, ornamental

and building stones. The average annual rainfall in the district was

793.6 rnm. (1901-1950). There are three different rainy periods covering

eight months of the year followed closely after the others. The district

receives 75% of the total mutual rainfall in the south west Monsoon

period i.e., June to September.

The climate of the district is moderate throughout the year i.e., 18"

C to 40°C temperature, April month is usually the hottest month. The

mean daily maximum temperature is 33.4"C and the mean daily

minimum is 21.2OC.

The intensity of Irrigation is not uniform in Bangalore rural

district the only solution to overcome the deficiency of water for

irrigation is through the exploitation of vast potential of under ground

water.

An attempt to be made in the thesis to analysis the general land

use and agricultural land use pattern of Bangalore rural district for t l~e

year 1987-88 and 1997-98.

According to the land utilisation data for the year 1994-95, the net

area sown stood at 3,10,828 hectares which constituted 68% of the total

geographical area of the district. The position regarding the other type

or land uses stood as follows - forest 18.5%, barren and uncultivable

land 5.5%, land put to non-agricultural uses 12.6%, permanent pastures

8.55%, land under miscellaneous trees and other groves are 12.44%.

The gross area sown is 53.58% of the total area and this indicate

that about 4.5% net area sown is more intensively utilised and is sown

more than once. The proportion of cultivated land to the total

Geographical area moves up to 62.36%. The extent of land available per

head in the district works out to 0.40 hectares which is much below the

state average at 0.71 hectares.

The food grains have shown declining trend over a period of 12

years because of the poor water resources and the agricultural lands are

converted into commercial uses as well as industrialisation. The major

crops of the Bangalore rural district are Ragi, I-Iorse gram, Paddy, Red

gram, field bean, Bengal gram and the important oil seeds are

groundnut, Niger, castor. The most important commercial crop is

Sugarcane.

The district covers an area of 5,814 sq. krns. and consists of eight

taluks namely:

1. Channapattana (545 sq. kms)

2. Devanahalli (451 sq. kms)

3 . Doddaballapura (792 sq. kms)

4. Hoskote (548 sq. kms)

5. Kanakapura (1590 sq. krns)

6. Nelarnangala (5 1 0 sq. krns)

7. Magadi (801 sq. kms)

8. Ramanagaram (631 sq. kms)

22 TOPOGRAPHY :

The central, northern and eastern portion of the district are

characterized by an often countryside consisting of vast stretches of

undulating plains. The uplands are dotted with series of irrigation

tanks. It represents an uplisted peneplain at an elevation of about 900

meters. The surface has been dissected on the western and southern

parts of the district giving rise to a broken and rugged topograpl~y, in

the west, the terrain is rugged and broken and is composed of a

succession of hills and valleys intersected by rocks and rapid streams

wit11 sandy beds. In south the hills get closer, the lands are covered

with denser vegetation and the general level declines as one moves

south towards the Cauvery. A range of hills from Kanakapura in the

south to Nijagal in North formed of coarse grained granite is a

prominent topographic feature. The hills are usually boulder stratum

and covered with shrub jungle. In some places granitic hills abruptly

rises from the surrounding plain forming conspicuous landmarks, the

valley in between the granitic hills from very fertile tract with abundant

supplies of water harnessed by means of wells. The low lying plain

country is marked by a series of tanks varying in size from small ponds

to considerable lakes. There are no natural lakes in the district, but

some of these tanks like Hoskote, Madhur, Doddaballapur, etc., adorn

u ~ e countryside forming beautiful spreads of water. These tanks serve

to store rainwater for a temporary period and making it available for

agriculture. Among the hills found in the district, the following are

notable one Shivaganga Betta (1,380 meters), Savanadurga Betta (1,207

meters), Nijagal Betta (1,070 meters), Ramagiri Betta (919 meters),

Kabbaldurga Betta (1,050 meters), Banantimari Betta (1,043 meters),

Uilikal Betta, Mudavadi Betta and Narasirnhadevara Betta.

The Savanadurga Betta is an enormous mass of granites which

stands on a base of about 12kms. in circumference and rises to a height

of 1,207 meters above MSL. The hill consists of two peaks i.e., one

called Bilibetta or white peak and another Karibetta or black peak.

Former names of the place were Savandi Durga and Krishnaraj Giri

later named as Savana Durga and it is about 8kms from Magadi. The

Shivaganga hill, conical shaped, rises to a height of about 1,380 meters

above MSL. The puranas give it the name of Kakudgiri. The Nijagal

Betta also called Suragiri, in the northwest of Nelarnangala taluk is

accessible only on the north cost. Ramagiri Betta a picturesque on the

left bank of the Arkavati, is about 5kms north of Ramanagaram and

give its name to the taluk. Sivagiri is a large fortified rock near

Ramanagaram on the right bank of Arkavati.

BANGALORE RURAL DlSTR lCT ADMIHISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

The following heights above MSL serve to show the general

elevation of the upper plain surface, Channapat tana 87013.1,

~evanahalli 899111, Doddaballapura 892- Hoskote 869111, Kanakapura

625m, Magadi 853m, Nelamangala 884m, Ramanagaram 686n1,

Thyamagondlu 899m Sompura 926m and Vijayapura 884 meters.

2 3 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE :

Bangalore rural district forms a part of the Deccan plateau and is

covered by Peninsular gneiss, granites, basic dykes and laterites. The

granites occur as intrusive in the gneiss colnplex and vary in colour,

structure and texture. A small lenticular patch of Hornblende sclGt

with a few runs of amphibolite is exposed north of Arajimketal~alli

between 10 to 20kms on the Nelamangala Doddaballapur road

inclusion of amphibolite are seen in the gneisses.

Bangalore rural district is not rich in mineral resources. The

important minerals which occur in the district are asbestos, Clays,

granite, limes tone, quartz, ornamental and building stones.

24 DRAINAGE :

A major portion of Bangalore rural district lies in the Arkavati

valley. The basins of the Dakshina Pinakini and the Shimsha account

for small portions of land in the eastern and western sectors

respectively. A line drawn north and south from the Nandidurga range

of hills to the west of Bangalore and then to Anekal would run along

the highest parts of the ridge that separates the Arkavati basin from

that of the Dakshina Pinakini. This watershed forms the eastern

boundary of the Cauvery system. A broken chain of rocky hills which

runs parallel to this watershed extends from the western corner of

Nelamangala taluk through the taluks of Magadi, Ramanagaram,

Channapatna and Kanakapura. Lands lying west of this hilly belt are

drained by the Shirnsha river.

The Arkavati, the Kanva and the Dakshina Pinakini (southern

pennan) are the rivers which flow through the district in the general

direction from north to south.

BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT DRAINAGE AND MAJOR DAMS

Height from the Mean Sea Level

700 900 meters

1 riangulated height

The Arkavati :

The Arkavati is a tributary of the Cauvery and its source is a well

in the south-western portions of the Nandi hills. Taking a south

easterly route, the river enters Doddaballapura taluk, passes tlvough

the eastern portions of Nelarnangala taluk, receiving tl~e rivulet,

Kumudvati from the west at Tippagondanahalli and then flows through

the Magadi taluk, passing east of Savanadurga penetrating between the

hills, Ramagiri and Shivanagiri. It runs through Ramanagaram taluk

and then through Kanakapura taluk. Another tributary, the

Vrushabahavati meets the river near Mudavadidurga and finally the

river flows into the Cauvery on the southern borders of the district in

Kanakapura taluk at Sangarna. The length of the main stream is about

190 kms. Though the river is not exactly a seasonal stream, in the

summer months it presents the usual aspect of a sandy bed with a small

current of water flowing at one side, however, the holes sandy bed

furnish a ready supply of water. During rainy season, it is a formidable

stream, swollen in the mountain torrents especially near Magadi.

Where after it favours mainly a midst a wild country side full of rocky

hills and precipices, major part of its course, especially the southern

part is through wild country amid rocky hills, consequently its waters

are little utilised. In the northern upstream side it finds many big tanks

like Doddaballapur and Madhure in the district apart from

Hesaraghatta and Thippagondanahalli tanks in Bangalore Urban

district.

The Kanva :

The Kanva river emerges from the hills to the north of Malur in

Channapatna taluk and enters to a broad and fertile valley that

stretches out upto the borders of the taluk and finally it joins to the

Shirnsha river. A reservoir has been formed by building a dam across

the river near Abbur and its water are being effectively utilised for

purpose of irrigation. Number of coconut gardens are found on the

lower parts of the river basin, the soil being well suited for the purpose.

The Dakshina Pinakini :

The Dakshina Pinakini takes its name from Pinaka, the bow of

Shiva, along with its northern counter part, it raises in the range of the

Nandi hills at the Channa Keshava Betta. Its course, after entering the

district, it takes turn to southwards and it passes through the taluks of

Devanahalli and Hoskote, where it forms the large lakes known as

Jangamakote (Kolar district) and Hoskote kere. The river continues its

southward journey and crosses the district and finally crosses the state

boundary at a place known as Sarjpura in Anekal taluk of Bangalore

26

Urban District. The total length of this river within Bangalore rural

district is about 60kms.

The rivers that flow through the district are too small to evoke

any hopes about the feasibility of putting up any major irrigation works

within the district. The irrigation potential is indeed quite low.

Currently some amount of water from these rivers are being utilised to

a little extent in different parts of the district. Kanva reservoir which

was built in 1946 is the only irrigation project that deserves mention as

a important source of irrigation with a network of canals. Mention may

also be made of the Monchanabale project in Magadi taluk each of

which when completed is likely to provide irrigation facilities to about

3,800 hectares of land.

2 5 SOILS :

The area being largely agriculture oriented, it becomes the major

source of livelihood, clearly indicating the immense importance of soils

in the region. Soils mainly being the resultant product of the parent

rock materials have a high resemblance in matters of textures, colour

and contents is clearly observed in Bangalore rural district. The soils of

Bangalore rural district are classified by large physical studies and by

the survey of the National Commission on agriculture (State soil survey

U'mgalore) state that these soils have been classified into three broad

categories.

1. Red Soil

2. Laterite soil

3. AlluviumSoil

1. Red Soils :

Red soils are bright red to pale red in colour. Sandy loam and red

sandy loarns can be seen in the taluks of Nelarnangala, Doddaballapura

etc. The principal dry crops are ragi, millets, pulses, oilseeds and the

irrigated crops are paddy, potato, vegetables, fruits etc.

BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT SOIL

-

Alhv iu rn soi l

29 FIG- I.

2. Laterite Soils :

Laterite soils are characterized by red to pale yellow colour. These

soils are found in Hoskote and Devanahalli taluks. The rainfed crops

are ragi, jowar, oilseeds and groundnut.

3. Alluvium Soils :

Silty alluvium is characterized by grey colour and fine particles. In

particular it is found in the taluks which are located on tl~e down

stream portion of the rivers and on tank beds. The area covered by silty

soils forms the irrigated area. Silty soil when wet it swells and becomes

sticky, when it is dry, it shrinks and develops open cracks.

Soil Conservation :

Soil conservation means to prevent the erosion of fertile top soil

and to conserve the soil moisture which helps in maintaining the soil

fertility. The soil conservation works are taken up in accordance with

the provision made under the Karnataka land improvement act 1961.

At present, the stress is on the development of land on watershed basis,

under this programme, the Department undertakes the construction of

farm ponds, graded bunds, terracing, gully, plugging etc. Based on the

rainfall probabilities and moisture availability index with different

degrees of water stress and periods of droughts, various intensities, the

30

periods and duration of crop growth have been worked out in the

district. The period of crop growth is 217 days i.e., from 2nd May to

12th June and 27th June to 18th Dece~nber. But tl~e drought period

during the growing season is more in the district. In Bangalore rural

district, it is estimated that 1.13 lakh hectares could be brought under

counter bunding. The taluk wise details are given in the following

table.

Table No. : 1 Bangalore Rural District

Area Covered Under Counter Bunding

Taluk

1. Cl~annapatna 2. Devanahalli 3. Doddaballapura 4. Hoskote 5. Kanakapura 6. Magadi 7. Nelamangala 8. Ramanagaram

District *

Total area that could be brought

under counter bu nd i ng

Area in Hects. 11,000 13,000 25,000 14,000 23,000 20,000 20,000

- 1,38,000

Total area counter bunding at the - end of March-95

Area in Hects.

125 -

2,392 28 290 29 67

- 3,304

Area in Hecls

2,027.28 567.32

8,918.41 1,203.40 6,500.42 1,155.71 2, 187.44

- 24,672.25

2 6 CLIMATE AND DROUGHTS :

The climate of the district is salubrious and very agreeable, it is

free from extremes. The climate of the district is classed as the

seasonally dry tropical Savannah Climate, with four main seasons. The

cold weather season, (December to February) is a period of generally

line cool weather with mainly clear blue skies. It is a period of little or

no rainfall. The hot weather season begins in March, March is a dry

month with low humidity. April and May are the months of

considerable thunderstorm activities. The south-west onsoon season is

between June to September, is a moist, cloudy and rdny period. I t is

also a period of fairly strong and steady winds, blowing from the sout11-

west to west. The north-east monsoon season from October is also a

moist and rainy period but with slightly less clouds. The main features

of the climate of the district are the agreeable range of temperatures and

the two rainy seasons, June to September and October to November,

corning one after the other but with opposite wind regimes

corresponding to the south-west and north-east monsoons. The

marked thunderstorm activity with occasional hailstorms and squalls in

April-May and September October are also typical more than half of the

annual rainfall occurs during the south-west monsoon period and

about a quarter in northeast monsoon period. Depressions in Bay of

Bengal are also reflected in this region. Appreciable rainfall also occurs

in April-May. Two other important features are the predominant low

clouding and the more or less steady temperatures during the whole

monsoon, June to October, and the early morning dew and mist or fog

during the months October to February.

27 RAINFALL :

The average annual rainfall in the district is 989 mm (1995). The

rainfall in the district varies from 759 mm to 1216 mm. There are three

different periods covering eight months of the year followed closely one

after the other. The district receives 22% of the total annual rainfall in

tl~c south-west monsoon period. (June to September).

28 TEMPERATURE :

There is a meteorological observations at Bangalore rural district.

April is usually the hottest month with the mean daily maximum

temperature of 33.4OC and the mean daily minimum of 21.2"C on

individual days, in hot seasons. The day temperatures often goes above

36°C with the on set of the monsoon early in June. There is appreciable

drop in the day temperatures. December is generally the coolest month

with the mean daily maximum temperature at 25.7OC. Nights during

January however, slightly cooler than during December.

BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT DISTRIWT ION OF RAINFALL. 1987 - 88

34 FIG - 5

BANGALORE RURAL DlSTR ICT DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL: 1997 - 98

29 NATURAL VEGETATION :

Bangalore rural district has a Geographical area of 5,814 sq. kms.

of which 1,094.35 sq. kms (approximately 18.8%) is under the control of

Forest Department. The reserved forest area is about 1,078.1 1 sq. kms,

protected forest area is about 8.27 sq. kms and the rest is under village

forests. The un-classed area include 'C' and 'D' class lands which are

rl~ostly barren and transferred from the Revenue Department to the

Forest Department. The area surveyed and categorized upto the end of

1986 was about 15,485 hectares of 'C' class land and 13,969 hectares of

'D' class land. The main activities of the department are managing of

the forest, afforestation of barren areas, social forestry etc. The

territorial forest divisions in the district as follows the ranges of

lioskote, Doddaballapur, Channapatna, Satanur, Kanakapura and

Ihnanagaram in Bangalore Fcrest Division. Social forestry ranges are

at Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Ramanagaram, Magadi and Harohalli.

The forest as the district especially of the central and the western

belts, contain valuable sandal wood though in much depleted numbers.

Among the timber yielding species, a mention may be made of teak

vectonic Grantis) the beete and home Acacias and honge are also

found in abundance. The different kinds of species with a spontaneous

include the Maru and the trees of lesser order which are useful

as firewood and also bamboo are found in aln~ost all forest areas. In

addition, few farmers have found casuaring plantations and eucalyptus

plantations as quite profitable to raise such plantations than crops in

afiricultural fields with poor soils. These trees yield poles with required

by construction workers and also provide firewood which is in great

demand. Bamboo is an important item among the nlinor forest

produces which include items such as seegakai, honge beeja, luppe

beeja, tamarind, mango, jack fruit, neralel, barks and resins besides

honey and wax.

1. Kanva Reservoir Proiect :

The reservoir project comprises of a storage reservoir across the

river Kanva near Kannarnangala Village in Channapatna taluk. The

1,423 meters long and 18 meters high earthen dam with a split way has

been constructed to store 22.73 million cubic metres of water. Two

canals on either bank provide irrigation benefits for over 2,024 hectares

(14.40%) in Channapatna taluk. The catchments area of the dam site is

about 340 sq. km with an annual average yield at about 296 million

cubic metres. An area of 445 hectares and 5 villages namely

Kannamangala, Kanva Chamahally, Kyaspura and Amanm-d-dli got

under the reservoir. The project was started in 1940 and

completed in 1946 with an expenditure of about Rs. 39 lakhs. The left

bank canal runs for a length of 16 kms to command an area of 1,013

hectares (5.65%), and the right bank canal runs for a length of 24 krns to

command an area of 1,011 hectares.

2, Bvramangala Reservoir Proiect :

The Byramangala reservoir project constructed at a storage

reservoir across the river Arkavati, a tributary of the Cauvery, near

Uyramangala village in Ramanagaram taluk. The utilization proposed

under this project is about 28 million cubic metres. The 22.86 metres

long and 23 metres high earthern dam has abated spillway in right

flank with the storage capacity of 1,214 hectares (8.64%) run for a length

of 32 kms. The right bank canal runs for a length of 10 krns and

commands an irrigable area of 405 hectares. the work on the project was

commenced in 1940 and the project was completed in 1971 with an

expenditure of Rs. 12 lakhs. An area of about 438 hectares (2.44%) has

been submerged under the reservoir without affecting any village. The

catchments area of the dam site is about 376 sq. krns with an annual

average yield of about 230 million cubic metres of water.

3. Manchananele Project :

The Manchanabele reservoir project comprises a reservoir across

the river Arkavati, a tributary to the river Cauvery at new

~anchanabele village in Magadi taluk with canals on both banks to

irrigate 3,845 hectares (21.50%) in Bangalore rural district. The total

utilisation proposed under this project is about 22 million cubic metres

of water. The catchment area at the dam site is about 1,590 sq. kms

(1,438 sq. Kms intercepted and 152 sq. kms independed) with an

average annual yield of 36 million cubic metres of water. The 354

metres long and 28.75 metres high dam comprises a central rnasonery

spillway section, with a masonry non-overflow section on the right

flank and earth dam in the left flank. The impounding capacity is about

36 million cubic metres. Due to the connection of this reservoir, 365

l~cctares of land and three villages namely Averahalli, Veerapura and

Vaderahalli come under submersion displacing about 1,350 persons.

Manchanabele left bank canal runs for a length of 53 kms and

commands 2,078 hectares (14.38%) both the canals run in rugged terrain

in initial reaches and cross Bangalore-Mysore state highway and

railway line. Administrative approval to the project costing Rs. 500

lakhs in 1976-77 level of rates has been accorded in 1977. The revised

cost of the project in 1985-86 level of rates was about Rs.1,850 lakhs.

'rhough the preliminary work on the project was started in 1970, work

on the main dam was started only in 1976. The project was expected to

tw completed during the year 1989. The displaced persons of Verapura

,~nd Vaderahalli are shifted to Kadabagesa village in Nelamangala taluk

and the village Averahalli is shifted to an elevated place near Averahalli

village itsell The expenditure incurred on this project from inception to

the end of March 1987 was about 1,244 lakhs of Rupees. Out of the total

irrigable area of 3,845 hectares only 69 hectares (18 hectares under the

left bank canal and 51 hectares under the right bank canal) lies in

Magadi taluk and the remaining area in Ramanagaram taluk of

Bangalore Rural District.

4. Arkavati Reservoir Proiect :

The Arkavati reservoir project envisages the construction of a

storage reservoir across the river Arkavati near Harobele village in

Kanakapura taluk, with a slow and lift canals on either bank to provide

irrigation over an area of 8,560 hectares (47.81%) lying entirely in

Kanakapura taluk. Total cropped area completed under the project is

8,500 hectares and the utilisation proposed to construct a central

spillway and masonefy non-overflow section on right bank with earth

dam on left bnk. The length of the dam would be 716 mehes and the

height of the dam above river bed would be 24.68 metres to create a

storage reservoir with 45 million cubic metres of water capacity. Tluee

villages namely Honganahalli, Marigondanadoddi and

Margadathayyanagundi with an area of 697 hectares will get

submerged by this dam, affecting a population of 600.

The project envisages flow canal and lift canal on either bank.

'I'he left bank flow canal runs for 23 kms with an irrigable conunand of

3,238 hectares (23.03%), while the left bank canal runs for 22 kms for

commanding an irrigable area of 1,457 hectares. The right bank flow

canal runs for the length of 23 kms to command an irritable area of

2,125 hectares, while the right bank left canal runs for 34 kms for

commanding an irritable area of 1,740 hectares. The sanctioned cost of

the project was Rs. 2,225 lakhs in 1983-84. The revised cost of the

project during 1985-86 level of rates were Rs. 2,470 lakhs. The work on

the project was started in 1975 and the project is expected to be

completed during VIII plan. Preliminary works like formation of

approach roads, colony buildings, dam site clearance, excavation for

chute, stilling basin, over flow and non over flow are in progress.

Rehabilitation and the works on the canals are yet to be taken up.

Expenditure on the project from inception up to the end of March 1987

was about Rs. 432 lakhs. The dam has the catchment area of 1,970 srl.

kms with an average yield ot about 1,770 million cubic metres of water

per annum.

5. Qgalur Proiect :

Iggalur project envisages the construction of a barrage across the

river Shimsha, a tributary to the Cauvery, near Iggalur village in

Channapatna taluk, for providing irrigation over an area of 4,047

hectares (22.60%) in Channapatna taluk of BangaJore rural district and

Maddur and Malavally taluk of Mandya district. The proposed

cropped area is about 5,500 hectares (39.13%) and the utilisation

proposed is about 50.50 million cubic metres. The dam proposed to be

constructed will be 1,234 metres long and eight metres high. With a

central masonry overflow and non overflow sections and earthern

embankment on either banks. This is only a diversion work, the

storage being only 0.85 million cubic metres. However it submerges

about 171 hectares of land without affecting any village.

The left bank flow canal drains for a length of 35 kms to have an

irrigable command of 1,477 hectares crosses Kanva and Bhirna rivers.

One lift irrigation scheme is envisaged on the left bank canal to

command an area of 765 hectares on the upper margin of the flow

canal. Three more lift irrigation schemes are contemplated on left bank

canal are having commands of 892, 508 and 405 hectares respectively.

Out of the proposed total irrigable command of 4,047 hectares only

1,377 hectares irrigable area lies in Channapatna taluk (left bank flow

canal - 246 hectares and right back canals 1, 132 Hectares).

Administrative approval to the project costing Rs. 342 lakhs at 1977-78

level of rates has been accorded in 1977. The revised cost of the project

at 1984-85 level of rates is Rs. 1,075 lakhs.

The work on the project was started during 1990. The work on

the barrage as per modified proposals was started during August 1985.

The work on the lift canal is completed over a length of 180 metres of

nuin canals. An irrigation potential of 520 hectares was created by June

1985 in Channapatna taluk. The total catchment area of the dam site is

7,050 sq. kms with an average yield of 63 million cubic metres of water

per annum.