‘Centre delaying declaring UKP and Bhadra project as national schemes’

Continuing his tirade against the ruling BJP government, the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the government is deliberately delaying taking up Upper Krishna Project (UKP) Stage III. H

Continuing his tirade against the ruling BJP government, the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the government is deliberately delaying taking up Upper Krishna Project (UKP) Stage III. He also hit out at the party for not taking up the issue of the Mekedatu project. Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Kumaraswamy accused the BJP government in the State as well as at the Centre of neglecting irrigation projects. “The Union government has also failed to declare the old Bhadra Project and Upper Krishna Project (UKP) I, II and III as national projects, though a proposal is before it,” he added. He added that during the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government in the State, he had met Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and sought a meeting of all stakeholders to issue a gazette notification for the Mahadayi and Krishna tribunal awards. He also appealed for approval for the detailed project report submitted for the Mekedatu project that will ensure drinking water for Bengaluru and hydroelectricity production with the State’s share of water, but the Centre has not initiated the process. The BJP government deliberately continues to delay it, he said.