Belagavi: There are about 36,000 lakes in Karnataka and of them 6,000 have been encroached upon by the government, private agencies and some private people, said minor irrigation minister C S Puttaraju. He added that officials have been told to identify such lakes and clear the encroachments.The minister chaired a progress review meeting here and later addressed the media. “Not only lakes, the catchment areas of the lakes will also be acquired to restore the water bodies,” he said.“Officials have been instructed to start 22 lift irrigation projects in Belagavi district which were stopped in the past few months,” the minister added.Accepting that funds were misused in his department earlier, Puttaraju said he had suspended several officials for misappropriation. The progress of various ongoing works was discussed in meeting at Suvarna Vidhana Saudha, he said.Puttaraju stated that the government had several evidences including audio recordings of BJP leaders who were trying to ensure the coalition government collapses. “We will reveal them at the right time. Chief minister Kumaraswamy has made a PHD in resolving such problems being created by BJP in the state,” he said.“The CM’s statement that public will revolt against BJP has been wrongly presented by some paid media. We are here to give good governance but BJP leaders, who are unable to digest the government’s works, are creating ruckus every day,” he alleged.Rs 55 crore needed to restart stalled worksA total of 183 lift irrigation schemes including 33 in Belagavi district are in a frozen state and Rs 300 crore is required to restart them, said Puttaraju.At a review meeting of Belagavi division at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) here, he said the 33 stalled projects will need Rs 55 crore.MP Prakash Hukkeri and MLA Umesh Katti complained that several lift irrigation schemes have been stopped due lack of funds. Land from farmers has been acquired for lakes but farmers have not been compensated, they said and sought the immediate release of funds.MP Suresh Angadi, MLA Mahantesh Koujalagi briefed about the problems of their constituencies. Chief engineer of minor irrigation department K H Raju and others were present.

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