BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said he has appealed to the Centre to allocate at least 40-45 tmcft of water to Karnataka in the river linking project.
“We have appealed for 40-45 tmcft of water for the state and asked the Centre to release an additional 5 tmcft of water to the Bhima river basin,” he told reporters in Delhi. He took part in the 24th meeting of the National Water Development Authority convened by the Jal Shakti ministry, that discussed linking Godavari with Cauvery, and Bedthi with Varada.
He said in the first phase of the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project with a capacity of 148tmcft, Karnataka has been allocated only 15.90tmcft. “We told the Centre the allocation is not adequate. Godavari is far away, let’s see how they decide on the usage,” he said to a query.
“Bedthi and Varada rivers are within the state and our allocation is 18.50tmcft. Total allocation is 34.40tmcft. We have given the go-ahead for a DPR for the Bedthi-Varada river linking. The project would cost Rs 10,000 crore, the Centre will bear 90 per cent and state will bear 10 per cent,” he explained.
On opposition to the Bedthi-Varada project, he said, “When the Centre is investing 90 per cent of Rs 10,000 crore and the state is investing only Rs 1,000 crore, how can we say no to the project? We have to submit documents to the Centre, and need to determine how much forest land is needed.”
Metro and RRTS projects
Shivakumar said he met Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday and discussed pending projects. “We requested approval of cost escalation of Metro Phase 2.
The DPR was prepared 15 years ago when the cost was Rs 26,000crore, now cost is Rs 40,000 crore,” he said. He said a proposal was submitted for approval of Phase 3A of the Metro from Sarjapur to Hebbal.
“We have requested for Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) for Bidadi-Mysuru, Harohalli-Kanakapura, Nelamangala-Tumakuru, Airport-Chikkaballapur, Hoskote-Kolar. Satellite towns are being planned around Bengaluru and the RRTC project will help this plan,” he added.