No compromise on Mekedatu project, TN opposing it for politics: CM Basavaraj Bommai
Bengaluru, Aug 5: Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai on Thursday asserted that there is no "compromise" on the Mekedatu project that the state wants to undertake across the river Cauvery, and accused the neighbouring Tamil Nadu of opposing it for the sake of politics.
"There is no compromise on the Mekedatu issue. In Tamil Nadu it is being used for politics, whichever party they may be from, they are opposing it for the sake of politics," Bommai said.
The chief minister's comments came on a day when the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP staged a hunger strike in Thanjavur against party-ruled Karnataka's move to build a reservoir on river Cauvery at Mekedatu.
Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said everyone is aware that the project is for drinking water, power generation and for the sharing of water during the distress period and pointed out about his meeting with the Union Jal Shakti Minister along with a delegation of MPs from the state in this regard.
"I'm confident that the DPR will be approved at the earliest, also we will get other clearances, and once we get it, it is certain that we will go ahead with the project.
There is no compromise on this. If anyone is protesting, we have nothing to do with it, it is being done for politics, we will not take it into account," he added.
Mekedatu is a multipurpose (drinking and power) project, which involves building a balancing reservoir, near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.
The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas (4.75 TMC) and also can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 9,000 crore.
Last month, the then Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin urging him not to oppose the Mekedatu project "in the right spirit" and offered to hold a bilateral meeting to address any issues.
In response, Stalin had urged Yediyurappa not to pursue the Mekedatu project, as he rejected Karnataka's stand that implementation of the project would not affect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers.
’ಮೇಕೆದಾಟು ಯೋಜನೆ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ರಾಜಿಯಿಲ್ಲ. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸಂಸದರ ನಿಯೋಗದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಜಲಶಕ್ತಿ ಸಚಿವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಡಿಪಿಆರ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅನುಮೋದನೆಗಳು ದೊರಕಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ ಶತಸ್ಸಿದ್ಧ’ : ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @BSBommai.@PMOIndia @gssjodhpur @MoJSDoWRRDGR pic.twitter.com/b6VujKy6T2
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) August 5, 2021
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India describes attack on Fujairah 'unacceptable'
New Delhi (PTI): India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians.
New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said.
Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," he said.
The attack on Fujairah city came as the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas pass, remains a major sticking point in the talks. Shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway has been severely disrupted by the conflict, triggering a sharp increase in oil prices and energy shortages in several countries.
The UAE's defence ministry on Monday said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran.
The ministry affirmed that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
