State will implement Mekedatu drinking water project: CM

'TN will get its share of 192 tmcft, K'taka to utilise excess water'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to implement the Mekedatu drinking water project.

Siddaramaiah was in Arsikere taluk on Saturday to lay the foundation stone for various development works in the taluk at a cost of Rs 520 crore. He said, “Tamil Nadu government had been utilising Cauvery river water but creating unnecessary problems over the Mekedatu multipurpose project.”

“The execution of the project will not create any problem for Tamil Nadu as it will continue receiving its share of 192 tmcft. The project will help Karnataka utilise excess river water. State government has already submitted a detailed project report (DPR) of Mekedatu to the Water Resource department and the cost estimates of the project is pegged at Rs 5,900 crore. The Congress government is committed to protect the welfare of the people,” he said.

After the programme Siddaramaiah told reporters that every year Tamil Nadu rakes up water-sharing issue. “The Mekedatu project can store 50 tmcft of water and the same can be utilised to meet drinking water needs of Bengaluru and Kolar, and generation of power. Even the Cauvery River Tribunal has not opposed the project but people of Tamil Nadu are opposing it due to political interests,” he said.

“State is facing a severe water problem due to deficit rainfall and there will be a shortage in supply of water till May-end, and hence Rs 1,140 crore has been released to augment drinking water supply,” the CM said.

When asked about JD(S) state unit president H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that the Congress party is struggling to get a suitable candidate to field in Nanjangud bypolls, the CM said, the Congress has no dearth of candidates. “Each constituency has five to six candidates. The Congress candidate will defeat BJP’s V Srinivas in bypoll to Nanjangud Assembly constituency,” he said.

‘Yedyurappa is not CBI’

Replying to B S Yeddyurappa’s allegation about transfer of funds to Congress high command, the CM sought to know if, “Yeddyurappa is a CBI Director or Enforcement Directorate Commissioner to have all the details.”