Karnataka - Bangalore   

`State will go ahead with Kalasa-Banduri Nala project'

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The State will go ahead with the construction of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion project on schedule from October 2, whether or not the Centre clears it.

Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa expressed the determination of the State to go ahead with the Rs.100-crore project a day after an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh submitted a memorandum on the project.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said the delegation led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urged Dr. Singh to advise Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz to withdraw the order staying the clearance given for the project. It envisaged diversion of 7.56 tmcft of water from the Mahadayi to the Malaprabha to meet the drinking water requirements of Hubli-Dharwad and some of the districts of north Karnataka. Dr. Singh had assured the delegation that he would discuss the issue with the Goa Government.

The Centre was dragging its feet on withdrawing the order staying the in-principle clearance for the project. Goa had also pleaded for referring the dispute to a tribunal under the provisions of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act.

He said injustice had been meted out to the State by successive governments at the Centre, including the BJP-led Vajpayee Government.

The former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would be invited to dedicate the Almatti dam to the nation. To mark the occasion, a grand function would be organised at the dam site on August 21, he said.

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