Shettar opposes diversion of Hidkal dam waters to meet industrial needs of Hubballi-Dharwad

Belagavi: MP Jagadish Shettar asserted that he was opposed to the diversion of water from Hidkal dam to meet industrial needs of Hubballi-Dharwad. When there is water scarcity in the district, water should not be released for industrial purposes of the neighbouring district, he stated.

He said the government and ministers from the district should come clean on the issue and make people aware of the facts about whether pipeline laying works were in progress and whether permission for the works had been given.

Shettar told reporters on Wednesday that when the district has been facing drinking water scarcity during summer, the reasoning behind the decision to divert water from the Hidkal dam to meet industrial needs of Hubballi-Dharwad cannot be understood. "If there was excess water, none would have opposed diversion," he added.

"As people from the district were opposing the water diversion, Public Works Department and District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, and MLAs of the ruling Congress government and Deputy Commissioner should make the facts clear as to how the works were progressing when permission has not been accorded. I have clarified that we are opposed to water diversion when there’s scarcity here," he stated.

"Despite ongoing protests against the diversion of water for Hubballi-Dharwad, most of the elected representatives from the district have kept silent," Shettar said.

He added, "I have been elected as MP from Belgaum and need to protect the interests of the people from the constituency. I will hold talks with the Deputy Commissioner and seek information if the District Administration has written a letter to stop the works of pipelines for water diversion from Hidkal dam."

Shetter said that the financial situation of the state was serious. "Contractors have said their dues were over Rs 60,000 crore. Guarantee schemes have led to the government not being able to implement developmental works."

"All four transport corporations have landed in a difficult situation. The government has not been able to pay salaries of employees in time, hence have decided to close down nine new universities established during the tenure of the BJP government," he said.

Referring to the discussion changing the Chief Minister, Shetter said the law and order situation in the state has collapsed. "The tussle for power has been going on in the Congress. Ministers themselves have been making allegations that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar who was also KPCC President of misusing his powers," he said.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants to break the record of former Chief Minister Devraj Urs of being the longest-serving Chief Minister and has made his intentions clear of contesting the coming assembly election too. At 78 years of age, Siddaramaiah has been moving around with new vigour. People fear the government will collapse, but Shivakumar has been keeping silent," he said.

He claimed that the faction feud in BJP will be resolved soon.