Latest news with #Mekedatu
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka Revenue Minister questions H.D. Deve Gowda's silence over Mekedatu project
Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has questioned former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's silence over the Mekedatu project even after the people of the State supported the BJP-JD(S) coalition in the last Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at Yuva Parva, a convention organised by the youth wing of the Congress party at Channarayapatna on Sunday, Mr. Byre Gowda said that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had assured the people that he would get approval for the Mekedatu project within hours if the State elected a good number of JD(S)-BJP seats in the Lok Sabha polls. 'The people elected the candidates of the coalition partners. However, Mr. Deve Gowda has not spoken a word about the project even more than a year after the elections. The people of Karnataka suffered even after electing the coalition candidates,' he said. He also pointed out that despite assuring ₹5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project, the Central government had not released even a single rupee for the same. Besides that, the Revenue Minister added that the Centre had been attempting to impose the Hindi language on the people of Karnataka. Mr. Byre Gowda said that he, as Revenue Minister, had brought significant changes in the State. 'The people would be benefited by the changes. The party workers should work towards bringing the party back to power in the next elections,' he added. MLA for Arsikere K.M. Shivalinge Gowda said that the State had been denied its share in tax collection. 'Against ₹4.5 lakh crore collected from the State, only ₹65,000 crore had been returned. Despite the difficulties, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been successfully leading the administration,' he said. He opined that the Congress party would be strengthened in Hassan if a person from the district was appointed Minister in charge of the district. 'We will show the power of the Congress party if a person from the district is appointed Minister in charge of the district. We should work towards winning all seven assembly constituencies in the next election,' he added. Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, MP for Hassan Shreyas Patel, and others were present.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Revanna recalls how well he handled energy dept in coalition govt
Mysuru: Former minister and Holenarasipura JD(S) MLA HD Revanna on Thursday said a project initially designed to enhance power generation and supply electricity to rural areas of Ramanagara and Bengaluru was renamed Mekedatu project. Revanna said during his tenure in the coalition govt as the energy minister, a detailed project report (DPR) was prepared for the project, aimed at generating 500MW of hydropower. However, the collapse of the coalition govt halted progress. "This project is now named Mekedatu," Revanna told reporters. Speaking about his tenure, Revanna claimed he maintained fiscal discipline, avoiding any electricity tariff hikes and leaving the energy department with a fixed deposit of Rs 500 crore. He contrasted this with the department's current financial state, alleging it now faces a debt of Rs 55,000 crore. "I do not know about smart meter installation. Earlier, we undertook reform measures in Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Bengaluru. Now, we only hear about losses," he said, expressing concern over the department's present condition. Acknowledging minor confusion within JD(S), he said: "Ours is a small party. Former minister GT Devegowda will not go away. Everything will be fine in the coming days."
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar seeks Centre's clearance for water projects
BENGALURU: Deputy CM and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar, who was in New Delhi on Tuesday, met different Union ministers to get approval, clearance and grants for various water-related schemes, including the Mekedatu and Yettinahole projects. Submitting a memorandum, Shivakumar urged Union Minister for Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav to ensure in-principle approval at the earliest to the Yettinahole project. Shivakumar explained in his letter that the project will address drinking water needs of drought-prone areas, including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Bengaluru South and North districts. There is a proposal to divert forest land in various villages of Tumakuru and Hassan districts which has been submitted to the environment ministry, he stated. Shivakumar also met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil for releasing central assistance to Upper Bhadra Project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP) scheme. He told the minister that acceptance/recommendations of different authorities of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation of Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Finance have been received for the project. This will benefit farmers and populations of drought-prone districts of Central Karnataka region, he added.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kumaraswamy challenges Congressto secure Tamil Nadu nod for Mekedatu
Mysuru: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy Saturday challenged the Congress govt in Karnataka to get its ally in Tamil Nadu to approve the Mekedatu project, claiming he could obtain the Prime Minister's approval in just five minutes if it succeeded. "I stand by what I said earlier. Congress neither has the strength to convince the Tamil Nadu govt nor to confront it. Without that, the Mekedatu project cannot be implemented. If they can convince their ally, I will get the PM's approval in five minutes," he told reporters. Kumaraswamy said, "It was the Congress that had earlier claimed it would implement the Mekedatu project. They have been silent for two years and are now shifting the responsibility onto me. How can I proceed? Let them first get their ally's consent. If the Tamil Nadu govt is boldly challenged and Mekedatu is taken up, then only it would be possible." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Criticising Congress for what he described as token gestures, he remarked, "What's the point of opening an office for Mekedatu without even convincing Tamil Nadu? Congress functionaries claimed they would implement the project. They should fulfill what they promised. They came to power after holding a padayatra in the name of Mekedatu. In the past two-and-a-half years, they have merely wasted time. If they now try to blame me, how is it justified?" The Mekedatu project is a proposed reservoir and drinking water project across the Cauvery river in Bengaluru South district. While Karnataka argues it is crucial to meet Bengaluru's drinking water needs and includes a hydropower component, Tamil Nadu opposes the project, fearing it would reduce the downstream flow in violation of Supreme Court orders and interstate water-sharing agreements. Taking a swipe at state minister Priyank Kharge's recent remark about banning RSS, Kumaraswamy said, "Forget banning RSS, Congress is getting banned everywhere. The people themselves are rejecting Congress. Let them first try to preserve their own existence. Don't give statements to divert attention from real issues." Alleging that Congress functionaries were targeting him due to political anxiety, he said, "They are afraid of me. That's why Congress leaders constantly chant my name. Ever since BJP and JD(S) formed an alliance, Congress has lost sleep. So they keep targeting me."
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress lacks the strength to convince T.N., while I can get PM's nod for Mekedatu project in five minutes: HDK
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday said the Congress government lacked the strength to convince the Tamil Nadu government on the Mekedatu project and that he could 'get the Prime Minister's approval for the project within five minutes'. There has been a war of words between Mr. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, with the latter challenging the former to help get clearances for the project from the Centre rather than continually criticise the Karnataka government. On Friday, speaking in Mandya, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that only the family of H.D. Deve Gowda could make the long-pending project a reality. 'I stand by my word' Speaking to reporters before participating in the DISHA committee meeting in Mysuru on Saturday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, 'If the Congress government has any strength, let them get their ally in Tamil Nadu to agree to the Mekedatu project. I can get the Prime Minister's approval for this project within five minutes. I still stand by what I said during the election campaign.' Mr. Kumaraswamy had announced, ahead of Lok Sabha polls, that he would retire from politics if he failed to implement the Mekedatu project in the next five years, if elected to power. The Union Minister said in Mysuru that the Congress came to power through a padayatra in Mekedatu's name but had simply wasted two and a half years. 'How can the project be done if they just place the responsibility on me?' he asked. Lashing out at the Siddaramaiah-led government, the Union Minister said, 'The Congress is under pressure from its ally. It neither has the strength to convince the Tamil Nadu government nor the courage to oppose or defy the DMK. Only if it boldly defies Tamil Nadu government will the Mekedatu project become a reality'. 'Go beyond petty politics' Meanwhile, speaking in Bengaluru, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil urged Mr. Kumaraswamy not to indulge in 'petty politics' over the Mekedatu issue, and instead, as a Union Minister, work constructively to help Karnataka get all the permissions for the project. 'Mr. Kumaraswamy is in the Union Cabinet and has an opportunity to help our State. Let him focus on it. Petty politics will only do harm to the larger interests of the State,' he said.
