Water politics: BS Yeddyurappa calls on DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Within a month of the high-decibel battle for three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats, state BJP president B.S. Yeddyuappa and water resources minister, D.K. Shivakumar, displayed extraordinary bonding at the latter’s residence here on Wednesday 

With his son, Shivamogga MP, B.Y. Raghavendra and Sagar MLA, Hartalu Halappa in tow, Mr Yeddyurappa arrived in Mr Shivakumar’s residence to discuss about irrigation projects underway in Shikaripura taluk and two other taluks in the district. Evidently, the meeting was not impromptu as Mr Shivakumar later admitted to the media that on receiving a memorandum, he discussed about progress of each of the projects with officers of the irrigation department.

Construction of lift irrigation facility on the banks of the river Tungabhadra near Udugani, Talagunda, Anjananpur and Hosur hoblies, besides implementation of similar projects in Shivamogga rural and Soraba taluks were on the memorandum. The upshot: both leaders were closeted with officials for over an hour to discuss all details of the projects.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr Yeddyurappa said Shikaripura taluk was identified as backward in Dr Nanjundappa committee report and several irrigation project proposals were pending before the government. "So, we came here to discuss the lift irrigation projects with the water resources minister," he added.

Mr Shivakumar scotched rumours of discussions involving politics. "We do not discriminate when it comes to development. When he was the chief minister, he helped by sanctioning developmental works. He did his bit. Now, Mr Yeddyurappa came with some proposals. We discussed at length and in the interest of people, we will do it," he added.