Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the Center has informed the Supreme Court about the need to notify Krishna Water Tribunal Award 2, and promised Karnataka that the process of approval for the Mekedatu drinking water project will be expedited.
“We informed the state’s stand and the recent resolution on Mekedatu passed by the legislature. We were assured of a decision at the earliest,” the chief minister told reporters in New Delhi after meeting Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol was also there. Mr. Bommai’s meeting with the Union Minister came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to approve the Mekedatu project, as decided at an earlier all-party meeting in Bengaluru. It was said that after the end of the assembly session, the Chief Minister would meet the ministers concerned.
With regard to Upper Krishna Project-3, Shri Bommai said that the State was informed by the Center that it has already filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on the need to notify the Tribunal Award as per law. “Two judges have withdrawn from the case and new judges are to be appointed. Our advocates have also argued for the appointment of two new judges. The tribunal award notification is important for raising the height in Almatti reservoir. He said that Mekedatu, Mahadayi, Upper Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects were discussed with the Union Minister.
On the situation of Upper Bhadra, the Chief Minister said that the approval of the Finance Ministry is awaited. “Once it is cleared by the finance ministry, the matter will come before the cabinet to declare the project as a national project. I will pressurize the Finance Minister to approve the project soon.
The Chief Minister along with Power Minister Sunil Kumar also met Power Minister RK Singh to discuss power reforms. “The means of getting the Centre’s help for implementing power reforms were discussed. If implemented, the electricity subsidy of about Rs 18,000 crore annually can be reduced. In addition, the state also argued for revision of power tariff for the state in the central and southern power grids, and the minister agreed to review it, Mr Bommai said.