Mandya (Karnataka) [India], July 29 (ANI): To ensure prosperity and water conservation, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday highlighted the central role of River Cauvery – the lifeline of the state.
Honouring state’s lifeline and abundant rains Shivakumar said that the Mother Cauvery would bless the Congress government in the State with an opportunity to offer ‘bagina’ for the next 10 years.
“Tamil Nadu benefits more from the Mekedatu project. This project will allow us to release 177 TMC of water even in times of distress. We can also generate 400 MW of power. We believe the Courts will allow us to build this dam and that Tamil Nadu will allow us to go ahead with this,” he said.
He further stated, “We had prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to bless us with good rains and she has blessed us generously. Siddaramaiah or I have not released water to Tamil Nadu. Goddess Chamundeshwari has blessed us with rains and hence we are able to release enough water to Tamil Nadu. Some people were running a propaganda campaign that it didn’t rain when Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister. The Rain gods have answered them. The clouds don’t know which government is in power. We have a target of sowing in 82 lakh hectares, of which sowing is complete in 62 lakh hectares.”
Speaking on developing the Cauvery Basin area, Shivakumar said, “Our government has decided to develop the Cauvery Basin area. We dredged all the canals in the basin last year as part of that plan. We have also tabled new legislation in the last session of the Assembly to ensure water to tail-end farmers of canals. Agriculture Minister N Chaluvaraya Swamy has a dream of setting up an Agricultural University in the district. This will transform the district.”
“We had taken up a padayatra for Mekedatu balancing reservoir, but the BJP had halted the yatra under the pretext of Covid. The yatra came to a halt before the people of Mandya could join. The people of the district have remembered this and supported us in a big way in the last election. We will repay that debt,” he said.
“Mysuru Wadiyars had built a beautiful Brindavan near KRS. Former Chief minister Gundu Rao gave a new shape to it. We have decided to take Brindavan to the next level under the PPP model. We are also starting Cauvery aarti on the lines of Ganga aarti. We have formed a committee to chalk out the modalities of the Cauvery aarti,” he added.
“We are not going to acquire any land for the new Brindavan by force. People who are willing may give their lands. We will discuss the plan with all stakeholders and come to a decision. The Brindavan will be developed in the same land it stands today. MLA Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda has submitted many pleas and it will be looked into positively,” he noted.
“Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited will be giving away awards to five people in the KRS, Kabini and Hemavathi divisions. Three watermen, one progressive farmer and one junior engineer will be given the awards,” he said.
Speaking to reporters before offering the bagina, Shivakumar said, “The rains have subsided a bit, yet the people along Cauvery river have been instructed to be cautious. The CM of Tamil Nadu has instructed his officials to fill up tanks in the basin area and we have done the same in our state. We will take care of the interests of farmers at any cost. We have to discuss with Tamil Nadu on the usage of excess Cauvery water.” (ANI)
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