Karnataka hails NGT order closing proceedings against Mekedatu project
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Friday welcomed the National Green Tribunal's decision to close on its own, proceedings based on a media report against the ambitious Mekedatu project and said the project would be started soon.
The tribunal had taken cognisance of a media report which stated that there will be adverse impact on forests and sanctuaries if the Mekedatu project, aimed at supplying drinking water in Bengaluru and surrounding areas, is permitted.
The report further said that there was no requisite clearance under EIA Notification, 2006.
While closing the proceedings on Thursday, the five- member panel of the Principal Bench of the NGT, led by chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, found merit in the submission of Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi that the media report did not mention that the issue of statutory environmental clearances is already pending consideration before the statutory authorities concerned.
It noted that even the very same media report has been mentioned by the Tamil Nadu Government in its submission before the Ministry of Jal Shakti in its April 27 2021 letter, even before it was taken cognisance of by the Tribunal.
Further, the same issue has also been raised by Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court.
"Thus, there is no need for this Tribunal to continue the suo moto proceedings," the bench noted.
"The Mekedatu project, which is significant for the state of Karnataka, is aimed at drinking water supply. The NGT, which was hearing a petition seeking a stay on the project, dismissed it and endorsed Karnataka's argument.
The project will be started as soon as possible after getting all the clearances," Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa tweeted.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan called the NGT verdict a shot in the arm.
"A major development in the Mekedatu project for Karnataka! I welcome the decision of the NGT," Ashwath Narayan tweeted.
According to him, implementation of this project will help provide drinking water to the people of Bengaluru and surrounding areas.
Earlier, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had alleged in a series of tweets that the Karnataka government had failed to protect the interest of the people of the state by not pursuing the Mekedatu project as the ruling BJP was held up with resolving the alleged bickering in the party.
In reply, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai dismissed the charge, saying that the BJP led state government will not give a second thought when it comes to protecting the interest of the state.
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Leadership issue: Cong high command will call us at 'appropriate time,' will wait, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 20 (PTI): With the leadership issue involving him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to the fore again, deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has told the two leaders as to when they will be called to Delhi to to discuss the matter.
He said that both of them will go to Delhi and meet the high command, when summoned.
"I will inform you, I won't do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on him and Siddaramaiah's likely visit to the national capital to meet the party high command after the just concluded legislature session.
Asked if there was any invitation from the high command, asking him and CM to come to Delhi, he said, "they have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go."
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"They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call," the Karnataka Congress chief added.
Shivakumar's statement came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue in office. He had also said that the Congress high command was "in my favour" and asserted that no decision was made on him staying at the helm for only two-and-a-half years, as per a rumoured 2023 agreement on power-sharing with his deputy.
Shivakumar, had said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fueled by the "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.
Meanwhile some 'Naga Sadhus' visited the Deputy CM's residence and blessed him.
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Stating that he is going to Delhi on Tuesday to meet various central ministers, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for water resources said, "the central government's water resources department has called us regarding interlinking of rivers."
"I will go there and discuss matters related to the state's river projects like Mahadayi, Krishna water award, Mekedatu, and Upper Badhra."
He said he will also meet the central water resources minister, forest minister, urban development minister.
"There are a lot of issues. We wanted to meet them along with MPs from the state, but still I will go and meet. Then after that, if needed, we will meet the Prime Minister also with the issues," Shivkumar added.
Hitting out at the Modi government at the Center for replacing the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from it, Shivakumar accused it of insulting the father of the nation.
He also challenged the government to remove Gandhiji's image from currency notes.
"The country wants Gandhi. People of the country will respond to it," he said.
"They want to change Gandhi's name...let them change this picture of Gandhi also," he said, showing a currency note.
"With Gandhi's name we had started an employment guarantee scheme under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and (late) Manmohan Singh (former PM), the MGNREGA.....they want to kill the scheme, so they have changed its name. A big movement will start against it from Karnataka itself," he said.
