Union minister notes Karnataka reservoirs benefits Tamil Nadu more than the state itself
Speaking at a seminar of “Sharing of Cauvery River Water” organized by Cauvery River Protection Committee” at Kuvempu Kalakshetra in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said “We have been subjected to injustice on the River Cauvery sharing issue. Our State (interest) has always been ignored while time and again, neighbouring States have been benefited more than us.”
BENGALURU: In an oblique reference to the State Government proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across River Cauvery in Ramanagar district, expressing displeasure, Union Minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday stated “We, Kannadigas are doing the work of water carriers” and said the reservoirs in Karnataka built using taxpayers' money have benefitted Tamil Nadu more than the State.
Instead of unity, he expressed displeasure over bringing politics, caste and division into everything in Karnataka and termed lack of unity among Kannadigas “That has been a curse" in getting justice in River Cauvery water sharing.
Speaking at a seminar of “Sharing of Cauvery River Water” organized by Cauvery River Protection Committee” at Kuvempu Kalakshetra in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said “We have been subjected to injustice on the River Cauvery sharing issue. Our State (interest) has always been ignored while time and again, neighbouring States have been benefited more than us.”
Explaining on Mekedatu, Kumarswamy stated Mekedatu balancing reservoir was proposed considering the growing water demands of Bengaluru and observed “With the growing population in Bengaluru, there may come a time when even if we release all water from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district, it won’t be enough for the residents of Bengaluru to meet its water needs.”
On the Mekedatu project, the Union Minister criticized the Congress ruled State Government for “pursuing a dual stand on the Mekedatu project.” Continuing, he said, Congress and DMK are allies and stated “Here, they go on padayatra with a slogan ‘our water is our right.’
Referring to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that Congress party’s alliance with Tamil Nadu ruling party DMK is limited to politics only, Kumaraswamy asked Shivakumar to first convince his alliance partner DMK, opposing the Mekedatu project, and later to discuss his assurance to get Centre’s approval for the proposed Mekedatu project.
Kumaraswamy observed “Unless we Kannadigas unite, we will not get justice on the Cauvery issue. Whenever Cauvery is discussed in Parliament, all Tamil Nadu Members of Parliament set aside their political differences and unite to raise their voice.”
Leader of Opposition in Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA R. Ashoka, Lok Sabha member Dr C.N. Manjunath, former Supreme Court Justice Gopala Gowda among others were present.
