Mysuru: Congress leaders and workers will undertake a padayatra from January 9, 2022 demanding that work on the Mekedatu project be started at the earliest, said Congress leader VR Sudarshan here on Sunday. “The padayatra will start from Mekedatu and terminate in Bengaluru,” he said.
Pointing out that it would be a bipartisan movement, Sudarshan said that leaders from the BJP and JD(S) were welcome to participate in the padayatra. “Our aim is to urge the government to start work on the project immediately. Once completed, it will benefit farmers in 10 districts, and ensure sufficient supply of drinking water to all the people in the region,” he said.
Sudarshan said that the Congress would invite Kannada activists, leaders of farmers’ outfits to participate in the padayatra. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar will share the mission of the padayatra at Talacauvery, after offering puja to the River Cauvery at her birthplace on December 24, Sudarshan said. “Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh will be in-charge of organising the padayatra, which will last 10 to 12 days,” he added.
The KPCC president, Sudarshan said, would tour Mysuru from December 23. “He will meet with the public as part of the Congress’s membership drive,” the Congress leader added.
The much touted ‘double engine’ BJP government – a coinage referring to the saffron party being at the helm at the Centre and in the state – has failed to expedite work on the project, Sudarshan said. Why is the state government not keen on starting work on the Mekedatu project? Why can’t we hold discussions with the Tamil Nadu government, and resolve any outstanding issues?” Sudarshan asked.
KPCC spokesman M Lakshman said that Karnataka could get an additional 66tmcft of water, besides being able to generate up to 440MW of power once the Mekedatu project was completed. “It will help the state government supply drinking water to 2.5 crore people across 10 districts, including Bengaluru,” said Lakshman, allaying fears of the project adversely impacting the ecology.
He added that the project would not harm Tamil Nadu’s interests. “The project is aimed at storing water that would otherwise flow into the sea. The BJP must not politicise this issue, and take steps to start work on the project immediately,” Lakshman added.
Pointing out that it would be a bipartisan movement, Sudarshan said that leaders from the BJP and JD(S) were welcome to participate in the padayatra. “Our aim is to urge the government to start work on the project immediately. Once completed, it will benefit farmers in 10 districts, and ensure sufficient supply of drinking water to all the people in the region,” he said.
Sudarshan said that the Congress would invite Kannada activists, leaders of farmers’ outfits to participate in the padayatra. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar will share the mission of the padayatra at Talacauvery, after offering puja to the River Cauvery at her birthplace on December 24, Sudarshan said. “Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh will be in-charge of organising the padayatra, which will last 10 to 12 days,” he added.
The KPCC president, Sudarshan said, would tour Mysuru from December 23. “He will meet with the public as part of the Congress’s membership drive,” the Congress leader added.
The much touted ‘double engine’ BJP government – a coinage referring to the saffron party being at the helm at the Centre and in the state – has failed to expedite work on the project, Sudarshan said. Why is the state government not keen on starting work on the Mekedatu project? Why can’t we hold discussions with the Tamil Nadu government, and resolve any outstanding issues?” Sudarshan asked.
KPCC spokesman M Lakshman said that Karnataka could get an additional 66tmcft of water, besides being able to generate up to 440MW of power once the Mekedatu project was completed. “It will help the state government supply drinking water to 2.5 crore people across 10 districts, including Bengaluru,” said Lakshman, allaying fears of the project adversely impacting the ecology.
He added that the project would not harm Tamil Nadu’s interests. “The project is aimed at storing water that would otherwise flow into the sea. The BJP must not politicise this issue, and take steps to start work on the project immediately,” Lakshman added.
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