Reply on Krishna award after consulting lawyers: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that he would comment on Andhra Pradesh’s objection to the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II only after discussing with the State’s team of lawyers led by Fali S Nariman. But, he added that he would not allow injustice to be meted out to the State’s farmers.

He was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone for development works at Manvi in the district. The chief minister said that the government had set a target of completing all irrigation projects at a cost of Rs 50,000 crore in the next five years.

Siddaramaiah warned that the licences of fair price shops that do not distribute 30 kg of rice per BPL family under the Rs 4,000-crore Anna Bhagya scheme would be cancelled and legal action initiated against them, if the beneficiaries lodge complaints in this regard.  

The Rs 400-crore Ksheera Bhagya scheme, under which milk is provided to schoolchildren two days a week, would be  extended to five days a week from next year, Siddaramaiah said.  The chief minister said that the government would provide Rs 700 more than the support price of Rs 4,300 provided by the Centre per quintal of tur dal. 

Siddaramaiah said that the government was ready to hold talks with Maoists, if they give up arms.