The Vijayanagara Channels (VNC) system, between Latitude 14030’ to 16034’N and Longitude 75040’ to 77035’E, is spread across three districts namely Bellary, Raichur and Koppal. The VNC System comprises 16 canals which were constructed during the Vijayanagara Empire about 400 years ago. Most of these canals are interlinked and have their own diversion structures on the river. The reported total command area was 16,241 ha which has now reduced to 11,154 ha due to urbanization and other factors. The command area of individual canals ranges from 210 ha to 2,220 ha.
Salient features of the Vijayanagara Channels
| S. No. | Name of the Channel | Length of Channel (km) | Crop area (ha) | Offtake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right Bank of the Tungabhadra River | ||||
| 1 | Raya Channel | 27.74 | 2,855 | Tungabhadra Dam |
| 2 | Basavanna Channel | 16.50 | 1,447 | Tungabhadra Dam |
| 3 | Bella Channel | 5.50 | 741 | Hosur Anicut |
| 4 | Kalaghatta Channel | 7.020 | 349 | Drainage channel |
| 5 | Turtha Channel | 18.69 | 1,171 | Turtha anicut |
| 6 | Ramasagar Channel | 15.50 | 1,024 | Ramasagar Anicut |
| 7 | Kampli Channel | 23.550 | 894 | Kampli Anicut |
| 8 | Belagodahala | 11.220 | 328 | Drainage channel |
| 9 | Deshnur Channel | 9.03 | 815 | Deshnur Anicut |
| 10 | Siruguppa Channel | 10.85 | 1,344 | Sirguppa Anicut |
| Left Bank of Tungabhadra River | ||||
| 11 | Hulugi Channel | 10.69 | 419 | Hulugi anicut |
| 12 | Shivapura Channel | 6.54 | 717 | Shivapura anicut |
| 13 | Anegundi Channel | 19.44 | 1,359 | Sanapur anicut |
| 14 | Gangavathi upper Channel | 9.00 | 1,363 | Upper Gangavathi anicut |
| 15 | Gangavathi lower Channel | 9.54 | 1,141 | Lower Gangavathi anicut |
| 16 | Bichal Channel | 14.50 | 276 | Jukur Anicut |
| Total | 16,241 | |||
VNC Feasibility Study
The revised VNC Feasibility Study Report (FSR) is under preparation for submission shortly. The following methodology has been adopted:
- Channel wise mapping of all the 16 Canals of the VNC for settlements, erosion, and issues related to canal width etc. completed as part of social and gender component;
- Revision of the Social Safeguard Due Diligence Report as per guidelines provided in the Aide Memoire to support ADB approval for “C” Category in accordance to ADB SPS 2009 to both IP and IR safeguard for Tranche 2;
- The Socio-Economic Assessment report is renamed as Poverty and Social Assessment (PSA);
- Conducting Financial and Economic Analysis for full project as well as for each of the canals as subprojects. Each sub project should meet the economic criteria to be eligible for ADB funding. For each subproject, identifying the affected WUCS and surveying the specifics for the head, middle and tail reaches, measuring the crop types, intensities, areas and yields are completed. Examined if any relation exists between the crop yield and watering. Canalwise informal interactions with farmers has been completed. EFA is being revised according to the revised BoQs/Schedule B (as of 12 June 2017).
- 9 out of 16 Vijayanagara canals fall under the protected areas. Hence an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a rapid biodiversity assessment are being conducted.
Progress on the VNC Feasibility Study
The PSC is revising the VNC FSR as per the feedback from the ADB Mission and other comments and guidance given in the aide memoire of November 2016. The progress is as follows:
- Social and Environmental Safeguards: As part of social safeguard assessment, PSC multidisciplinary team visited all the 16 canals and held interactions with the community members and farmers. Field studies along all the 16 canals for social and environmental safeguards aspects completed. Prepared Strip maps of all canals; data analysis is in advanced stage of completion. Public consultations and focus group discussions with local people as well as project implementation authorities were conducted at different points of time as part of the assessment.
- Poverty and Social Analysis has been completed.
- The Resettlement Framework has been updated in view of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
- As part of the Initial Environmental Examination, PSC has conducted field visits, collected primary and secondary data which was analyzed, and findings discussed with the stakeholders. A total of 9 canals are located in the Otter Conservation Area and appropriate mitigation measures have to be incorporated while carrying out the construction work. Further, based on the Good Practices for the Collection of Biodiversity Baseline Data document prepared for the Multilateral Financing Institutions Biodiversity Working Group, PSC has prepared a format for collection of data for the Rapid Biodiversity Assessment for VNC. After due approvals, the RBA has been initiated by an external consultant.
- Draft Social Safeguard Due Diligence report has been prepared and finalized in consultation with the ADB consultant and shared with KNNL.
- Data related to crops and cropping pattern has been collected from the Irrigation Department through its various divisions. Other agriculture data such as impact of watering on yield also collected processed and fed into EFA analysis.
- Financial and Economic analysis: Revised EFA will begin shortly as the modified BoQs/Schedule B have been received just now from the DPR Consultant for all the 16 canals. This will also include results from MASSCOTE training undergone by KNNL/CADA engineers organized by ACIWRM. The Rapid Biodiversity Assessment shall be incorporated into the EIA after its completion by July end.
- VNC FSR comprising all the above chapters (except the EIA) is expected to be completed by the end of June 2017. EIA shall be submitted separately.
VNC Bid Document
PSC has prepared draft Terms and Conditions of the Bid documents in consultation with the ICZ Munirabad and the PMU. The modified BoQ/Schedule B is received just now which will be incorporated into the bid document and submitted shortly to KNNL.