State to put pressure on centre to increase Almatti height to 524 m, says DKS
The Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the State government was trying to put pressure on the Union government to increase the height of the Almatti dam on the Krishna river to 524 metres (m), in Kolhar in Vijayapura district.
'We are putting pressure on the Central government to issue a notification to increase the dam so that it can impound more water. We have also decided to continue the necessary land acquisition process in case the proposal is approved and the areas of submergence is identified, the Major and Medium Irrigation Minister said after laying the foundation stone for several development projects.
'We have taken a decision to raise the height of dam. I have discussed this issue with the MLAs and decided to continue the land acquisition process. Recently Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I met the concerned Union Ministers with a request to issue the notification. The Union Minister had convened a meeting also, but it was postponed due to some reasons,' he said.
He said that due to the focussed development of irrigation in northern Karnataka, various districts in the region were turning to sugarcane growing districts. 'After Mandya, the districts of this region have become sugarcane bowls. We are committed to making the lives of the farmers of this region better. New factories are starting in this region and jobs are being created,'' he said.
'The opposition parties are criticising that there has been no development. That is false. We have implemented many programs for the development of the region. We have released ₹5,000 crore every year for the development of Kalyan Karnataka and ₹2,025 crore for the development of Bidar district alone. We have released water to the second crops in this area this year,' he said.
He alleged that BJP governments in the past did not keep their promise. 'It did not provide even ₹5,300 crore that was announced in the Budget for the Bhadra Upper River Project. It did not support irrigation projects in northern Karnataka,'' he said.
'Some leaders of the Banjara community met me and expressed their concerns about the sub caste census and internal reservation. I want to tell them that I understand their concerns. I appeal to you no to believe in rumours. We have a strong government in the State. We will strive to ensure justice to all. There is no need to worry,' he said.
He said the Congress would come to power in the next term. He appreciated the work being done by Minister Shivanand Patil in his Ministry and his district.
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