Centre not granting environmental clearance to Mahadayi project, says CM Siddaramaiah
Hubballi (Karnataka), May 4 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday accused the Centre of withhoding environmental clearance for the Mahadayi river project, which he said is crucial to resolving the water crisis in North Karnataka region, particularly in the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad.
Speaking to reporters here, Siddaramaiah attacked Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, who represents the Dharwad constituency, alleging that the BJP leader has "failed" to take any steps to ensure the project’s completion.
“He is an important Minister in the Centre. He should get us environmental clearance. How many times we have pleaded to the Centre. We have given letter to the Centre, appealed to them and me and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar went to New Delhi several times,” the CM said.
He said that calling an all-party meeting is only a small part of the solution, and that for the Mahadayi project to move forward, the central government must grant environmental clearance.
“Environment clearance is the only road block. Scared of Goa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not giving it (environmental clearance) to us. Pralhad Joshi does not talk there,” Siddaramaiah alleged.
Goa and Karnataka are at loggerheads over diversion of water from the Mahadayi river through the construction of dams by the latter on the river’s tributaries, Kalasa and Banduri.
The Goa government has contended that Karnataka cannot divert water from the Mahadayi river, as it passes through the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located downstream in North Goa.
The Centre approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for the construction of the two dams two years ago.
Regarding the completion of two years of his government in Karnataka, the Chief Minister said a public event will be held on May 20 at Vijayanagara district.
“We will hold a public meeting in Vijayanagara where we will tell people about the work done by our government in the past two years,” Siddaramaiah said.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
