The curious case of a 'wasteful' irrigation project in Kerala

The work on this ambitious irrigation project in Wayanad started in 1978. The estimated cost of the project was ₹7.5 crores. Nearly 2,000 families were displaced. 

Now, after 38 years the Karappara irrigation project remains a distant dream, despite spending  ₹260 crore. The government is still pumping crores on the maintenance of the dam and canals as part of the project, every year. 

 Planned to utilise water awarded to the state from Kabani river basin, the project envisaged to irrigate 6220 hectares of paddy field in three taluks of the Wayanad district. 

"It is a wasted project and a curse for the local people,” says Krishnakumar, a local resident. “Nearly 2,000 families were displaced for building a dam across the Karappuzha River, a tributary of Cauvery. Yet, it is of no use to farmers. We were evacuated from our lands in vain,” he added. 

Canals as part of the project were partially commissioned in 2010, bringing 610 hectares under irrigation. Most of the canals are damaged. Even if the project is commissioned, it is doubtful whether the canals, built three decades back, would be fit to carry the gushing waters. It's only the taxpayer's money. So, who cares.