Bangalore, dhns: In a bid to curb encroachment of tanks, the minor irrigation department has taken up a project to fence 3,600 tanks across the State coming under its jurisdiction. Minor Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol told reporters in Bangalore on Thursday that the five year project will cost Rs 600 crore. While budgetary grants will be provided every year, additional financial assistance will be sought from Nabard, he said. The project would involve erecting fences, counterbunds and planting trees around the tanks under the afforestation programme, he said. A loan of Rs 200 crore has been sought from Nabard for constructing 150 new tanks especially in the Krishna basin. The new tanks will help in irrigating 30,000 hectares. Karjol said a high-level meeting of officials from various departments including revenue, forest, rural development and panchayat raj, Bangalore Development Authority, BBMP, BMRDA will be convened soon to work out the modalities for removing the encroachment of tank beds in Bangalore. Karjol had recently stated that an estimated 5,000 acres of tank bed worth Rs 50,000 crore in and around Bangalore city had been encroached. He admitted that there had been some delay in taking up the drive, but denied that he was under pressure to drop the programme.