Deputy CM Shivakumar meets Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, CR Paatil, discusses drinking water projects

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is in New Delhi, on Tuesday met with Union Minister of Jal Shakti C R Patil and Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav and discuss unfinished drinking water projects in the state.

“We have two pending projects, one is Kalasa-Banduri and Yettinahole. One of them is 60 per cent done, but was stopped due to some technical reasons, it was stopped by the Forest Department, so we gave them an alternative land”. On the other project, the minister said that they have come to some conclusion and discussing with some counterpart ministers. “I am meeting some other ministers in this regard”, Shivakumar told reporters here.

Met Hon’ble Union Jal Shakti Minister, Shri @CRPaatil, in New Delhi today to request the timely release of Central Assistance for the #UpperBhadra Project.

This critical irrigation and drinking water project is essential for addressing the needs of drought-prone districts of… pic.twitter.com/rFw9YzAh57

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 8, 2025

Shivakumar also said that he will also be discussing the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal’s award which was announced earlier and urge for its implementation. According to Shivakumar, Kalasa-Banduri and Yettinahole drinking water projects are yet to be completed, with one of them even 60 pc complete but had been stopped due to the Forest department not giving clearance.

Talking about the order of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal for allocation of water, Shivakumar mentioned that he is going to talk with Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav and CR Patil and urge for issuing the order on the KWDT award. “I have come here to meet them (Bhupendra Yadav and CR Patil) to give award for the Krishna Water Tribunal which was announced earlier, and see to it that the order is passed”.. We also have two pending issues”, the Deputy CM said.

Met Hon’ble Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri @byadavbjp in New Delhi today to discuss key projects in Karnataka that are pending environmental clearances.

We emphasised the need for early forest clearance for the #Yettinahole Integrated Drinking… pic.twitter.com/1sozBq2AkH

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 8, 2025

He also mentioned that twice earlier, meetings with the Union ministers had been postponed, adding, “Two meetings were fixed, and it had been postponed due to unavoidable circumstance, I don’t know what was the circumstances, again I am meeting with the minister for water resources to see to it that the order is passed”.

The government of Karnataka has taken up the Yettinahole integrated drinking water project to mitigate the acute water shortage in the drought prone areas of the state, especially Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Hassan, Ckikkamagaluru, Tumkur, Bangalore South and Bangalore Rural districts.

The Deputy CM, on July 7, also wrote a letter to Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav urging him for the “in principle” (Stage 1) approval is accorded to the Yettinahole project. “It is in the state’s interest that the Union government ensures this project is cleared without further delay”, he said in his letter.

The Congress leader also spoke about the upcoming meeting of the AICC OBC Advisory council to be held in Karnataka, and hosted by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. Expressing confidence in the leadership of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he added, “”A team of our OBC leaders are coming to Karnataka and KPCC is also hosting them. My CM is taking the lead on this issue… He is one of the important leaders of the country and will play a major role in strengthening the party”.

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) was established to resolve disputes among the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra and Telangana. (ANI)