Karnataka govt. can give ‘water guarantee’ if Centre gives requisite permissions: DKS

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that if the Union government accords requisite permissions for major irrigation projects of Karnataka — Upper Krishna, Mekedatu , Mahadayi and Yettinahole — the Congress government would be able to provide “water guarantee” as the “seventh guarantee.”

Addressing a rally in Haveri to distribute title deeds to beneficiaries, described as the “sixth guarantee”, which coincided with the Congress government completing 1,000 days in office, Mr. Shivakumar said that the government had decided to give compensation to the tune of ₹35 lakh to ₹40 lakh to farmers who part with their land for the Upper Krishna Project.

“Owing to effective arguments in the Supreme Court, we have received a favourable order towards the balancing reservoir on Cauvery at Mekedatu. We are readying DPR for the project. On Mahadayi, the Forest Department has not given the necessary permissions,” he said. Speaking on the Yettinahold project, he said that if the permission is given within three months, then the State government would be able to complete the work of supplying drinking water to Chickballapur and Kolar.

A host of Ministers including Krishna Byre Gowda, Shivanand Patil, H.K. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, K.H. Muniyappa, G. Parameshwara and over 20 legislators took part in the convention at Haveri.