K'taka DCM DK Shivakumar to meet Modi over Maharashtra govt's objections to Alamatti dam height
Bengaluru, Jun 3 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil to discuss the objections raised by the Maharashtra government to raising the height of Alamatti dam.
This follows Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expressing concern that raising the height of the dam could lead to flooding in Maharashtra’s Sangli and Kolhapur districts.
“I will seek time from PM and the Jal Shakti Minister once CM Siddaramaiah writes a reply to the objection raised by the Maharashtra CM,” he told reporters here.
He also said CM Siddaramaiah will respond to Maharashtra CM's letter within two days.
"I have already shared my inputs with the CM. We will also share CM’s letter with all the MPs so that they can take it up in the Parliament. We will seek an appointment with the PM after that. It is important that all of us safeguard state’s interests in unison,” he said in a statement issued by his office.
Shivakumar said Maharashtra CM Fadnavis is an intelligent person, who had supported the project in the past.
"I am surprised he (Fadnavis) wrote this letter now. Managing floods within a state is the responsibility of the state governments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar inspected the venue for Kempe Gowda Jayanthi celebrations on Magadi road here.
"We have decided to celebrate this year’s Kempe Gowda Jayanthi at this venue. The land allotted to Kempe Gowda Development Authority is nearby. We will lay the foundation stone for the Kempe Gowda Development Authority on June 27 and celebrate his Jayanthi. In the allotted land, a museum on Kempe Gowda will also come up,” he added.
Outlining details of the celebrations, he explained, “Our local leaders have suggested swapping the allotted land with the land of Social Welfare Department as it also has an auditorium. A railway line will also pass through it and a station would be built here. This will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting.”
Asked if the land was too far from the city, he replied, “Bengaluru has expanded now, where else can we allot the land? No one is willing to part with Golf course and Race Course.”
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K'taka remains central to Aequs' strategy, says min Patil amid row over firm's investment in TN
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Commerce and Industries Minister M B Patil on Monday asserted that Aequs continues to expand in the state and that its proposed investment in neighbouring Tamil Nadu was a business decision aimed at diversification, not a shift away from Karnataka.
Reacting to criticism on social media over reports that the Karnataka-based firm had signed a major investment deal in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district for setting up a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster, he said the state government was fully aware of the company's plans and remained confident about its long-term commitment to Karnataka.
"While we welcome every major investment in India, would like to clarify a few points," Patil said in a post on 'X'.
Aequs was significantly expanding its footprint within Karnataka, including a Rs 3,000 crore investment in Kolar for electronics manufacturing.
"Its recently approved Rs 1,500 crore ECMS project will also be grounded in the state. Karnataka remains central to its long-term strategy," he said.
Patil added that the government had prior knowledge of the TN proposal.
The government was already informed and aware that the TN investment is a business decision aimed at geographic diversification and de-risking operations, not a shift away from Karnataka.
"Healthy competition between states strengthens India's manufacturing ecosystem," he said.
Emphasising the state's focus on high-technology sectors, Patil said, "We remain committed to deepening Karnataka's leadership in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and our engagement with industry partners is strong and ongoing."
The Aequs Group has pledged Rs 4,000 crore to bolster Tamil Nadu's aerospace manufacturing capabilities at the SIPCOT-Shoolagiri Industrial Park in Krishnagiri district.
The group proposes to establish a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster for the production of aircraft engines, gearbox components, and precision engineering parts. This initiative is expected to provide employment to 7,000 individuals.
