BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday asked BJP leaders of the state to exert pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get approval for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river in Ramanagara district.
Shivakumar, also president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, said he had come to know that BJP leaders were visiting the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam across river Cauvery in Mandya district.
“I am happy the BJP friends are going to the KRS. Let them go. They should go to Delhi to implement the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.
They should put pressure on the PM saying that they had earmarked Rs 1,000 crore (during the BJP government in Karnataka). Give all the clearances and permissions. Only then BJP’s fight for Cauvery water will get some value,” he said.
Wondering why Rs 1,000 crore was earmarked by the previous BJP government in the budget and why the clearances were not taken, the Deputy CM said the BJP should first get that approval.
Regarding taking an all-party delegation to the Centre to press the State’s case on the Cauvery water, DKS said he has written letters to the opposition parties, requesting them to follow up on the matter.
“Once the PM gives his approval (for the meeting), we will immediately take the delegation there (Delhi),” he said.