Chamarajanagar: Accusing the Centre of delaying permission to Karnataka’s Mekedatu water project due to pressure from BJP leaders of Tamil Nadu, Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah appealed the people of Chamarajanagar to take part in large numbers for Congress party’s Mekedatu Padayatra that starts from Jan. 9.

Addressing the party’s Mekedatu awareness and Congress membership registration rally at Chamarajanagar yesterday, Siddharamaiah alleged that Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai is on  a dharna against Karnataka’s Mekedatu Cauvery water project  that is planned to come up at Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border and this was preventing the Centre from according sanction for the project.

Contending that Karnataka BJP leader and former Minister C.T. Ravi too is against the project, Siddharamaiah maintained that the Centre’s callous attitude has delayed the execution of the project and the Congress has now taken up the cause of the project for the sake of the people of Cauvery basin.

Pointing out that the Mekedatu to Bengaluru Padayatra will commence on Jan. 9, he said that the Congress Government in 2017 had prepared the DPR concerning the Rs. 9,000 crore project and sent it to the Centre for approval. But even after 5 years, the Centre is yet to give clearance for the project because of pressure from Tamil Nadu, which is vehemently opposing the project. He appealed the people to send at least one member of their house to take part in the 10-day Padayatra.

KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, in his address, said that the Padayatra has been launched with the theme ‘Namma Neeru, Namma Hakku’ (Our water, our right) and appealed the people to take part in large numbers.

Arguing that the construction of Mekedatu Dam will help in storage of large volume of water in Harangi, Hemavathi and other Cauvery Basin Dams, he said that Karnataka has every right to use Mekedatu water for drinking and irrigation purpose. Stating that certificates will be issued to all participants of the Padayatra, he appealed the people to write poems and songs and prizes will be given for the best ones.

KPCC Working President R. Dhruvanarayan, Legislators C. Puttarangashetty, R. Narendra, Veena Achaiah and Dr. D. Thimmaiah, former MLAs A.R. Krishnamurthy, S. Jayanna and Balaraj, KPCC Women’s Wing President Dr. Pushpa Amarnath, former MPs A. Siddaraju, Kagalawadi Shivanna and others                 were present.

Earlier, Siddharamaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, who came in the same car from Kollegal to Chamarajanagar, were given a rousing reception by the party workers upon arrival at Chamarajanagar. Later, they visited the famed Chamarajeshwara Temple and sought the blessings of the deity. Thereafter, the two leaders marched in a Padayatra that started from the town’s Traveller’s Bungalow (TB). The Padayatra  passed through Sultan Shariff Circle, KSRTC Bus Stand, Bhuvaneshwari Circle, Santhemarahalli Circle, Chikka Angadi Beedi and Nrupatunga Circle, covering a distance of 2 kms, before reaching the rally venue at Old Private Bus Stand, in which thousands of people took part.

District Minister S.T. Somashekar lashes out at Congress

Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District-in Charge Minister S.T. Somashekar took potshots at the Congress for its Mekedatu rally. Speaking to press persons at Chamarajanagar on Sunday, Somashekar said that the Congress has embarked on the padayatra only out of political considerations.

Asserting that the State BJP Government was committed for the execution of Mekedatu project, he accused the Congress of doing nothing while in power. Highlighting the efforts being made by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for the implementation of Mekedatu water project, he said that the CM will come up with a briefing in a couple of days on the efforts being made.

Slamming Siddharamaiah and D.K. Shivakumar for making baseless corruption charges against the Government, he challenged the Congress leaders to come up with documents in support of their claims.