MYSURU: Appealing to the farming community to set aside apprehension after the apex court made a passing remark on setting up Cauvery Management Board, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government has strongly opposed setting up of such a body as it is against the interest of the state’s farmers.
Speaking here on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said he has asked Karnataka’s counsel to strongly oppose setting up of such a body. He clarified that the court has made passing remarks and not passed orders in this regard. Though, water storage in reservoirs has improved compared to previous year, Karnataka could not meet Tamil Nadu’s demand for water, he said.
“We are filling up tanks to address drinking water needs in our state,” he added. Siddaramaiah said sowing has been done in 60 lakh hectares as against 73 lakh hectares and there is 12 tmcft water in Hemavathi, 8 tmcft in Harangi, 19 tmcft in Kabini and less than 103 ft against 124.8 ft in KRS while many reservoirs in north Karnataka are to full to the brim.
‘Mysuru prominent tourist destination’
Siddaramaiah said Mysuru has been a prominent tourist destination attracting people from across the globe. He said they wanted to make city illumination more attractive using LED lights and want legislators, MPs and ministers to go around and give him feedback on the lightings. “I wanted to improve the Dasara procession on lines of Republic Day parade and have also requested Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to sanction airshow and send contingents from defence force to take part in Dasara festivities,” the Chief Minister said.
‘People will bless us again in 2018’
“I am confident that people of the state will support and bless us again in 2018. I will inaugurate the Dasara festivities for next five years,” said Siddaramaiah. The crowd was into peals of laughter when Siddaramaiah said JD(S) MLA G T Deve Gowda and BJP MP Pratap Simha will wish him. Recalling his childhood days where his father took him to Mysuru to watch the Dasara procession and taking part as NCC cadet in Dasara procession, he said I am blessed with an opportunity to take part in Dasara festivities as a legislator, Minister and Chief Minister.