NEW DELHI: The Union Finance Ministry has already approved the Upper Bhadra project, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday and also demanded the Central government to declare it a national project and release funds for it.
“The Union Finance Ministry has already approved the Upper Bhadra project. I have demanded Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to take the lead in getting cabinet clearance to declare it as a National Project and release of the funds,” said Bommai. The CM was speaking to media persons after the GST Group of Ministers meeting in New Delhi.
“I met the Union Water Resources Minister and discussed various irrigation projects of the state. I reiterated my demand to clear the DPR for the Mekedatu project at the earliest,” he said.
Bommai said the issue of the Upper Krishna project too came up for discussion. “The Tribunal order allowing the state to raise the height of the Almatti dam needs to be notified by the Union government. The demand has been conveyed again and the Union minister has responded positively,” Bommai said.
The CM also met Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and thanked her for releasing the Rs 8,633 crore GST share of the state. He also demanded the Finance Minister to reconcile a few accounts issues and release the due amount to the state.
Ministers from seven states participated in the GST meeting and an interim report will be presented to the GST Council at its next meeting to be held on June 27 and 28, Bommai said.
To a question on violence in various parts of the country against the Agnipath scheme, Bommai said effective measures have been taken to maintain law and order in the state. “I had a meeting with the DGP, ADGP, Bengaluru Police Commissioner and the Home Secretary and instructed them to take strong precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents,” he said.
Bommai further said that the youth who come out after the military service will get ample employment opportunities. “Agnipath is a scheme with good intentions. 17 to 21 is the age to learn. The youth who come out after military service will get ample employment opportunities. The huge pool of trained youth will be an asset to society. More clarifications are also expected from the Union government,” he added. (ANI)