Delegation to meet PM

Chief minister N Dharam Singh will lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention for early clearance of the long-awaited 'Kalasa Bandori Nala drinking water project' proposed across the Mahadayi river.

The government is committed to the implementation of the project, envisaged to provide drinking water to Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad, he said while replying to the issue of delay in executing the project, on which the opposition BJP sought to move an adjournment motion in the state assembly.

"There has been a delay in taking up this project, locked in inter-state river water dispute, following objections from Goa to the diversion of Mahadayi river," singh said.

"Despite repeated pleas, the centre has not revoked the stay issued on september 19, 2002 following the objections raised by Goa," he added.

Earlier, replying to the matter, water resources minister M Mallikarjun kharge asserted that there was no question of shelving the project as the state would utilise its rightful share of 7.56 tmc of water to provide drinking water. Singh and kharge appealed to farmers, who have launched an indefinite fast demanding early implementation of the project, to end the stir.

Flaying the delay, BJP leaders S Yediryurappa and Jagadish Shettar wanted the government to start work, ignoring Goa's objections as had been done by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in executing 'illegal projects' in the Krishna river valley.