Karnataka CM Meets PM Modi, Urges Release of Drought Relief Funds
The Mekedatu project would also serve to meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru City and Ramanagar
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi seeking his intervention to get 5-chief demands of Karnataka conceded such as release of Rs 18, 171.44 crore to tackle drought in the State where 223 taluks out of 236 taluks are drought affected owing to deficit rainfall, besides, he also pressed for immediate meeting of High-Level Committee under Union Minister for Home to release funds for drought relief works.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accompanied by Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda, brought to the notice of the Prime Minister that the State Government submitted its first list of memorandum about three months back and it has been two-months since Inter-Ministerial Cabinet Team made its field visits in Karnataka. It is learnt that IMCT has submitted its report to the Ministry of Home which was to be placed before the High-Level Committee. But, so far, no meeting of the High-Level Committee under Union Home Minister has taken place.
Explaining the position of farmers in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah to Narendra Modi stated that “Since, crops have failed, it is necessary that we pay the input subsidy (Rs 4,663.13 crore) to the farmers soon so as to alleviate their hardship and suffering.”
It was also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister over giving green signal to start works on Mekedatu balancing reservoir across River Cauvery in Ramnagar district and the Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that Tamil Nadu, lower riparian State, has been opposing the project which is proposed at Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
Adding, the Chief Minister said the Mekedatu project would be more beneficial to Tamil Nadu and the project would help to generate 400 mw of power and the water would flow to Tamil Nadu. The Mekedatu project would also serve to meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru City and Ramanagar.
Prime Minister was also told about the Upper Bhadra Project to which Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitaraman had announced Rs 5,300 crore budgetary allocation but not a single paise has been released so far.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah drew the attention of Prime Minister to River Mahadayi Diversion Project which has been waiting for environment clearance and sought his intervention to get needed environment clearance for the works on the project to start. Already, gazette notification has been issued for the Mahadayi project.
Prime Minister was also requested by Chief Minister to increase number of days of employment from 100 days to 150 days a year under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act.