CM Siddaramaiah offers bagina to Krishna river at Almatti dam

VIJAYAPURA: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday offered bagina to the Krishna river at the Almatti dam here. He was accompanied by Deputy CM D K Shivakumar and ministers M B Patil and Krishna Byregowda. They were received by ministers R B Thimmapur and Shivanand Patil and present and former MLAs.

The CM and the Deputy CM, who arrived by the same helicopter from Bengaluru, walked separately up to the place where the bagina was to be offered. The CM received only a few petitions from farmers who were demanding that Vijayapura and Bagalkot should be declared drought-hit. This prompted the farmers to stage protest.

The CM speaking to media persons at Almatti dam on Saturday.

Later, addressing the gathering, CM Siddaramaiah said, “Among the reservoirs in the state, the Almatti and Narayanapura dams are full and there will be not water problem in these parts. The Krishna catchment area has received less rain and hence 113 taluks have been declared drought-affected. Later, another 73 were added to the list. On September 4, all taluks which have received less than normal rainfall will be declared as drought-hit and we will appeal to the Centre to provide aid”.

As regards the Upper Krishna project, Siddaramaiah said the allocation of Rs 21,000 crore made by the previous government has been continued. “The BJP government had claimed that the Centre will release Rs 5,000 crore for the Tungabhadra project, but the funds never came. We have not reduced any funds for the Upper Krishna project”.

On the Cauvery issue, the CM said, “We don’t have water, but we have to abide by the orders to release 5,000 cusecs daily”. He also denied any bias between farmers of the Cauvery and Krishna basin areas.

The CM and the other ministers later held a meeting with Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd (KBJNL) officials regarding the Upper Krishna-3 project, land acquisition and rehabilitation measures.