BELAGAVI: The Congress has announced it will embark on a 10-day padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project.
The 179km padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru will begin on January 9. This despite stiff opposition to the project from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. “This BJP government does not have the will to implement the project. The padayatra is being taken up as the project would help 2.5 crore people,” said Congress state president DK Shivakumar and opposition leader Siddaramaiah at a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Siddaramaiah explained that the Mekedatu project was started in 1968 when Congress was in power in the state. “When I became chief minister in 2013, a detailed project report was prepared. The proposed expenditure was Rs 5,912 crore. When Shivakumar was the irrigation minister, the blueprint was prepared in 2018, and the proposed expenditure rose to Rs 9,500 crore. But since then, BJP government has not made many attempts to push the project,” he said.
“Sixty-six tmc ft of water which is going waste would be stored in the reservoir and utilised for drinking purposes and electricity generation. Thirty per cent of Bengaluru citizens don’t have access to proper drinking water supply. Other regiond will also benefit,” Shivakumar explained.
“The water dispute between Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ended after the Supreme Court verdict in 2018. It was decided that Karnataka should release 177 tmc ft of water to TN. “Apart from this, TN has no scope for objections as per the law,” he added.
When asked whether the padayatra is a political stunt ahead of 2023 assembly polls, Siddaramaiah denied it and said: “If the ruling BJP initiates the work, the padayatra will be called off immediately.”
Pursuing it with Centre: CM
CM Bommai said the government is pursuing the Mekedatu project with the Centre and work will begin soon after getting the required approvals. Responding to a question by Congress member Sharath Bachche Gowda in the assembly, the CM said the DPR is currently before the Cauvery Monitoring Board. The board has discussed the DPR and the government has requested the Union minister to get the board’s nod in its next meeting. The government has asked the Union ministry of environment and forests to give terms of reference (ToR), a pre-requisite for seeking environment clearance.
The 179km padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru will begin on January 9. This despite stiff opposition to the project from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. “This BJP government does not have the will to implement the project. The padayatra is being taken up as the project would help 2.5 crore people,” said Congress state president DK Shivakumar and opposition leader Siddaramaiah at a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Siddaramaiah explained that the Mekedatu project was started in 1968 when Congress was in power in the state. “When I became chief minister in 2013, a detailed project report was prepared. The proposed expenditure was Rs 5,912 crore. When Shivakumar was the irrigation minister, the blueprint was prepared in 2018, and the proposed expenditure rose to Rs 9,500 crore. But since then, BJP government has not made many attempts to push the project,” he said.
“Sixty-six tmc ft of water which is going waste would be stored in the reservoir and utilised for drinking purposes and electricity generation. Thirty per cent of Bengaluru citizens don’t have access to proper drinking water supply. Other regiond will also benefit,” Shivakumar explained.
“The water dispute between Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ended after the Supreme Court verdict in 2018. It was decided that Karnataka should release 177 tmc ft of water to TN. “Apart from this, TN has no scope for objections as per the law,” he added.
When asked whether the padayatra is a political stunt ahead of 2023 assembly polls, Siddaramaiah denied it and said: “If the ruling BJP initiates the work, the padayatra will be called off immediately.”
Pursuing it with Centre: CM
CM Bommai said the government is pursuing the Mekedatu project with the Centre and work will begin soon after getting the required approvals. Responding to a question by Congress member Sharath Bachche Gowda in the assembly, the CM said the DPR is currently before the Cauvery Monitoring Board. The board has discussed the DPR and the government has requested the Union minister to get the board’s nod in its next meeting. The government has asked the Union ministry of environment and forests to give terms of reference (ToR), a pre-requisite for seeking environment clearance.
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