HUBLI: Tuesday's meeting convened by the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, of leaders of political parties indicated the Government's initiative to end the stalemate over the execution of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala projects to divert the Mahadayi river to the Malaprabha project. The projects have been envisaged to supply drinking water to Belgaum, Dharward and Gadag districts.

It has taken three years for the Government to take an initiative towards getting the project going after the Union Ministry of Water Resources kept in abeyance the "in principle" clearance given for the projects (on a petition from the Goa Government). In this period, it has not held discussions on the projects with party leaders.

The ostensible purpose of Tuesday's meeting was to prevail upon the Malaprabha Farmers' Federation, which is spearheading an agitation launched more than a month ago, to call off a rally planned for Thursday in Nargund in Gadag district to mark the "martyrs' day."

The Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party conveyed the seriousness of the situation in the area and the consequences of delay in the implementation of the projects. The Government told them it is helplessness in dealing with the situation.

Basavaraj Bommai, JD(U) MLC and Chairman of the State JD(U) Parliamentary Board, who heads the action committee for the agitation, Prahlad Joshi, BJP MP from Dharwad North, held the Government responsible. They said that the Government has not made efforts to get the Central order against the projects withdrawn. Mr. Dharam Singh's statement that the Government plans to take up the issue with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Goa Chief Minister, Pratap Singh Rane, hardly helped to mollify the critics.

Mr. Bommai and Mr. Joshi demanded that the State Government demonstrate its commitment to the projects by starting the civil works. They said this has been the practice in the execution of all major projects including Upper Tunga, where the work was begun without clearance from the Forest and Environment ministries. The Government could take up civil works under the drought relief programme, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail