Delay in getting appointment with Modi upsets Siddaramaiah

CM had sought time to discuss Kalasa-Banduri project, drought

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said he was disappointed that the appointment he had sought with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various issues, including implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project and drought condition prevailing in the State, had received no response.

Speaking after holding a meeting with elected representatives and various organisations from Dharwad and Belagavi, who have been spearheading a movement seeking the implementation of the Kalasa Banduri irrigation project, said, in a federal system the Centre needs to respond positively towards the problems faced by the states.

Siddaramaiah said his office had written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) 15 days ago  seeking time with Modi.  However, the State is yet to receive a reply, he said. Recently, Water Resources Minister M B Patil had visited New Delhi seeking that the meeting be held before the conclusion of the current parliament session (August 13). Siddaramaiah said he was not politicising the issue but sought that the PMO finalise the meeting at the earliest.

All-party meet on Aug 23

The chief minister said that an all-party meeting will be convened on August 23 to discuss the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project. Floor leaders of political parties in both the Houses of the State Legislature and MPs would be invited to the meeting to be held in Bengaluru. He urged the organisations, which have been protesting for the last 15 days demanding the early execution of the Kalasa Banduri project, to withdraw their agitation.

The project seeks to improve drinking water supply to the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the Mahadayi river, to divert 7.56 tmc  of water to the Malaprabha river. Goa has raised objections resulting in the project not taking off.