Bengaluru: Even as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) rapped the State Government for increasing pollution of river water, Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol said that he has directed industrial areas in Krishna and Cauvery river basins to set up water recycling plants.

Speaking to presspersons here on Oct. 28, Karjol chastised the Karnataka Pollution Control Board and officials for failing to discharge their duties in preventing pollution of river waters.

Maintaining that some industries were letting out waste water directly to rivers which has led to river pollution, Karjol said that the industries too have been warned against playing with the lives of people and cattle.

He further said that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, taking serious note of river pollution, has warned that such industries who fail to set up water recycling plants will be shut down.

Referring to irrigation projects, Karjol said that Rs. 20,000 crore has been set aside for irrigation projects in the State, which is the highest allotment in a single financial year so far. Pointing out that 51 lakh hectares in the State has come under irrigated area, he said that there are plans to expand this cover to 66 lakh hectares in near future.