Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
*It is so unfortunate that he has been compelled to dodge the ball and lie to save your government from embarrassment.
*It is sad to see BJP leaders quenching their thirst to lie by denying water for the people.*
I,as part of Why no love for Karnataka:
#AnswerMadiModi,had raised a series of questions to Narendra Modi about the injustices done by the Union Government towards Karnataka.
With respect to inter-state river water issues, we had raised 5 questions and the Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has responded to just 2 of our questions and the rest of his explanations are unrelated to our question series.
Unfortunately,even for the questions he has answered, it is either false or inappropriate to the specifics of our question.
Here are facts regarding the same with detailed explanations:
>With regards to the Mekedatu project the minister has cited that the issue was included as an agenda item – Is the duty of the Prime Minister or the Jal Shakthi Minister to just include the topic as an agenda item or resolve the crises?
Why has the Prime Minister failed to intervene according to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, which allows his intervention during distress situations?
>As regards the Kalasa & Bandura Projects, the requisite clearances / approvals for the proposals pertaining to Forest clearanceexemption from EIA Notification, 2006, Wildlife / Tiger Corridor clearance for the Kalasa Scheme from National Board of Wild Life (NBWL),and declaration of the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary are pending with GoI.
>The Upper Bhadra Project is a major LIS under implementation in the central region of Karnataka State, envisaging the utilisation of 29.90 TMC of water to irrigate an extent of 2,25,515 Hectares by Micro irrigation.
The proposal for inclusion of the Upper Bhadra Project as a National Project is still under consideration with GoI. Even though all requisite clearances / approvals of competent authorities are accorded, the release of Rs.5300 Crore Central Assistance to the Project, as announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget Speech, is still pending.
>Out of the allocated 173 TMC of water to Karnataka State under the KWDT-II Award,130 TMC is the share for the Upper Krishna Project Stage-III. Its utilization involves raising the storage at Almatti Reservoir from RL 519.60 M to RL 524.256 M and contemplates irrigation for 5.94 Lakh Ha in the drought-prone Northern Karnataka.
More than a decade has elapsed after the pronouncement of the KWDT-II Award, and the Gazette Notification of the Award is yet to be notified by GoI.
This is despite the State of Karnataka urging the Union Government to move the Hon’ble Supreme Court by filing an appropriate application for modifying the order dated 16.09.2011 and taking consequential steps for the Gazette Notification of the KWDT-II Award.
