CM vows consensus on Krishna water issue

By Our Staff Correspondent

GULBARGA, OCT. 14. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, said today that the Government would continue its policy of arriving at a consensus with the Opposition parties on major issues.

Addressing presspersons here, he said the Government and the Opposition would take a united stand on the contentious issue of sharing additional water available in the Krishna river with the other riparian states as per the Bachawat Tribunal Award.

He said that the Government would initiate a discussion on the issue during the ensuing session of both Houses of the Legislature.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that there was a dispute between the riparian states on the issue of sharing the additional water available in the Krishna river, and this had to be resolved "once and for all".

Mr. Krishna said that apart from the ongoing projects, new projects were being undertaken for utilising the State's share of the Krishna water. The height of the Alamatti Dam was 519 metres, and 278 MW of power could be generated. It was not necessary to raise the dam height to 524 metres for generating power, he added.

He said that the Government's decision to entrust the Alamatti Dam power project to the Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC) was final. One of the main reasons for scraping the earlier arrangement with the Chamundi Power Corporation was the cost factor. "There was a world of difference in the cost factor between the KPC and Chamundi, and this worked in favour of former," he added.

On reports of another multinational company evincing interest in the Alamatti Dam power project, Mr. Krishna remarked: "It is too late now and they have missed the bus".

The Chief Minister indicated that the Government was likely to seek special assistance from the Centre to take up relief works in the rain-hit areas. It was compiling reports from the deputy commissioners of the affected districts on the extent of damage to crops and infrastructure. The Government would prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to the Centre seeking special assistance.

Mr. Krishna expressed happiness that the reservoirs were full due to the heavy rain in the catchment areas. The tanks which were empty for many years were full. The State had released to Tamil Nadu 20 tmcft of water in addition to the quantity that was to be released by this time. The Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu was full, and the excess water was flowing into the sea, he noted.

He announced that he, along with the Minister for Public Works, Mr. Dharam Singh, would meet his Maharashtra counterpart and hold a discussion on the comprehensive development of roads in the border districts of both states. He declined to comment on the performance of the NDA Government at the Centre which has completed one year.

The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, and Mr. Dharam Singh were present.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : 'Data Post' likely in March
Next     : Creating leadership with 'human capital'