CM, DCM to initiate ₹200 crore Benni Halla flood control project on Feb. 8

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and a host of Ministers are expected to attend the initiation of ₹200 crore Benni Halla flood control Project, which is aimed at mitigating the losses farmers faced during recurring flash floods in the stream during rainy season.

The laying of foundation stone will be held at Shiraguppi in Hubballi taluk of Dharwad district on February 8.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, MLA for Navalgund N.H. Konaraddi said that the ₹200 crore project had been prepared as per the recommendations of the G. Paramashivaiah Committee on preventing flash floods and mitigating the losses.

Mr. Konaraddi said that in the State Budget of 2024-25, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earmarked ₹200 crore under the State Disaster Management Fund (SDMF) and the administrative approval was given on October 9, 2024 for taking up the project.

“Under the project, it has been planned to take up channelising work in Benni Halla from KM 53.30 to KM 148. The work involves building retaining walls for 1.05 km in flood-prone areas along the stream ad 7.15 km of tank bund. Development work will also be done at 83 places where smaller streams converge with Benni Halla. Seven box culverts and seven weirs will be constructed and ‘snana ghatta’ (bathing ghat) has been proposed at Yamanur,” he said.

Mr. Konaraddi said that once the project was completed within the scheduled 18 months, 37 villages and 20,000 hectare farmlands in Gadag and Dharwad district would be free from flood damages.

He said that although the cost of the project was ₹200 crore, the actual cost would be ₹163 crore after deduction of 18% GST.

“It is part of the ₹1,610 comprehensive Detailed Project Report envisaged for the development of Benni Halla that passes through Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag districts, for which central assistance is also being sought through Union Minister Pralhad Joshi,” Mr. Navalgund said.

Other BJP MLAs C.C. Patil and M.R. Patil have also been requested to take efforts to get grants for the project, he said.

Mr. Konaraddi said that in addition to the ₹200 crore project, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and other Ministers would also be initiating various development works worth ₹150 crore in Navalgund Assembly constituency on February 8.