Centre stalling Mahadayi scheme, alleges Kumaraswamy

The Mahadayi Tribunal has given its nod to Karnataka to utilise 4.5 TMC feet of water from Mahadayi river. However, the Centre has been stalling the same, without issuing the gazette notification to begin the scheme for water utilisation, alleged Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Campaigning for Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate Veena Kashappanavar in Terdal on Friday, he said that the state could not start the project unless the Centre issued the gazette notification.

“We have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari on several occasions but all appeals have fallen on the deaf ears. In spite of this, Modi visits our state to seek votes for the BJP, Kumaraswamy expressed his anger.

This year, the BJP government in Maharashtra is not keen on releasing our usual share of water from the Koyna Dam to Krishna river. Those residing in the river basin face severe problem during summer. By not cooperating on sharing water with us, the BJP was stooping low, he flayed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was only good at making speeches. “I cried when I met the 19-year-old wife and the family members of Pulwama martyr in Mysuru. Why should I cry for the people of Pakistan when nothing has happened there. The Balakot airstrike took place in a forest without human habitation in the borders,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

“What is the contribution of Modi government to North Karnataka region which was in power for five years,” he questioned, and added, “Though Modi visited Bagalkot he continued to speak about Balakot,” the chief minister criticised.