Bengaluru, Mar 4: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday expressed confidence that the Cauvery Water Management Board's decision regarding approval of the Detailed Project Report on Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across Cauvery river will go in favour of Karnataka.

"We know which stage Mekedatu project is. The last meeting of the Cauvery Management Board to approve the detailed project report is due to happen. We know that the decision will be in our favour," he told reporters.

He was replying to a query on allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the Mekedatu project in the 2022-23 budget tabled by him in the Assembly on Friday.

He further said once the decision comes in Karnataka's favour, the state will get the terms of reference for environment clearance, for which his government will be prepared.

"We are ready to apply for the terms of reference. We have the willpower to start the Mekedatu project and we are working in that direction. Anticipating all clearances, we have reserved Rs 1,000 crore for the project. We will work for it in a committed manner," Bommai said.

He was replying to a query whether allocating Rs 1,000 crore for the contentious Mekedatu project on Cauvery river was a gimmick to gain political mileage as alleged by the Congress.

The Chief Minister said he has "all the minutest details" about various irrigation and water projects whereas the opposition party "knows only politics and nothing else".

The Congress on February 3 concluded its 'Walk For Water' padayatra (foot march) from Ramanagara to Bengaluru demanding the commencement of Mekedatu balancing reservoir project in Kanakapura, which is located in the home constituency of Congress state president D K Shivakumar.

The Karnataka government submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2019, which was then referred to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) where it is stuck currently as Tamil Nadu, which is the lower riparian state, has opposed the project tooth and nail.

Karnataka has maintained that the project within its territory will benefit both states as the surplus water stored can be managed between the two during the distress years, and its implementation will in no way affect the interests of Tamil Nadu's farming communities, as there will be no impact on its share of water.

The neighbouring state is of the view that the project would "impound and divert" the uncontrolled water flow due to Tamil Nadu from Kabini sub-basin, the catchment area below Krishnarajasagara, and also from Shimsha, Arkavathi and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams.

The estimated Rs 9,000 crore Mekedatu multipurpose (drinking and power) project involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district. The project, once completed, is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas (4.75 TMC) and can also generate 400 megawatts of power.

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.



Bhubaneswar, Jan 16 (PTI): The Odisha government will provide a monthly honorarium of Rs 30,000 to each of the Padma awardees of the state from the current month.

The Odia Language Literature and Culture Department issued a notification to this effect on Thursday.

In view of their outstanding contribution to society in various fields, the state government has decided to provide an honorarium of Rs 30,000 to the Padma awardees, the notification said.

All the Padma awardees of the state, who are alive, will receive the honorarium through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode from January 2025, it said.

The government has asked collectors and culture officers of all districts to submit details of the Padma award winners (who are alive) including the district collector's certificate, bank account details, IFSC code to the Directorate of Odia, Language, Literature and Culture as soon as possible.

In March last year, the previous BJD government had announced a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000 for the Padma awardees from Odisha. However, it was not implemented yet, an official of the department said.

In November last year, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had decided to provide Rs 30,000 to the Padma awardees of the state. Accordingly, the formal notification was published on Thursday, he said.

The Padma Award was introduced in 1954. The award is given to personalities for their outstanding contribution in the fields of arts, education, science, sports, social work, public service, medicine, literature, etc.

As per the Padma Awards website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, till now, the President has conferred Padma awards on 105 eminent personalities from Odisha, which includes 90 Padma Shri, 11 Padma Bhushan and four Padma Vibhushan.