Mangaluru: Chief Whip of State government in the Legislative Council, Ivan D’Souza said total cost of Pashchima Vahini project was Rs 1,394 crore.

Under the first phase, 53 works in Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts would be taken up at a cost Rs 200 crore.

Briefing reporters, he said he had raised the Pashchima Vahini issue during the recently concluded legislature session. 

Minister T B Jayachandra informed the Legislative Council that the project will see a series of vented dams or check dams would be built to augment water during summer in the three coastal districts. Despite heavy rainfall in the three districts, they are facing unprecedented water crisis during summer, he said.

D’Souza said construction of vented dams under the scheme will not only mitigate water crisis, but also help in recharging groundwater table. In 53 works, a total of 845 mcft water can be stored.

In the first phase, 29 works worth Rs 56 crore would be taken up in Uttara Kannada, 14 works in Udupi at a cost of Rs 52 crore and 10 works in Dakshina Kannada district at a cost of Rs 91 crore, he added.

D’Souza said Jayachandra had informed the Council that a comprehensive project report had been prepared in this regard.

In the second phase, Rs 611 crore would be sanctioned and in the third phase, Rs 583 crore provided. As wooden planks used for vented dams to store water rot within two years, a new technology of fibre planks would instead be used, he stated.