Hubli: With the state starved of power, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there is no question of shifting the Kudagi Super Thermal Power Project at Kudagi in Bijapur district. Addressing reporters after offering ‘Bagina’ to River Krishna at Almatti dam where the water level has touched the brim, the CM allayed fears that the project will affect the ecology and the health of farmers living in the vicinity and said it is essential to meet the power shortage being faced by Karnataka.
Stating that there is a shortage of power for industry and irrigation, he assured that he will safeguard the interests of farmers in Kudagi village after setting up of the project. “The Centre’s ambitious 4,000 MW power project cannot be stopped at this juncture as more than 60 per cent of the work has already been completed. Karnataka will get half of the power generated by the project. It will not cause any harm to the environment or the health of people as most advanced technology is being used for setting up the plant”, Mr Siddaramaiah said.
Promising that the state government is ready to hold discussions with Kudagi farmers to redress their problems, he said that a compensation package will be provided to them and other farmers of 22 villages that will be submerged by the Upper Krishna Project as per the new land acquisition policy of the Central government.
He also said that the government is planning to convert all dams into tourist hubs and a proposal will be ready soon in this regard. Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers staged a dharna at the entrance of Almatti reservoir during the visit of Mr Siddaramaiah demanding that the Kudagi power project be stopped.
