Implementing Mekedatu drinking water project is the “right of Karnataka”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Saturday and said he would lead a delegation of all-party leaders to Delhi on April 22 to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue. Responding to the memorandum submitted by leaders of Kannada organisations, which had called Karnataka bandh on Saturday demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project, the Chief Minister said efforts would be made to convince the Prime Minister about the importance of the project for Karnataka.
‘Work will begin’
He assured of commencing the civil works on the project as soon as the detailed project report was prepared. He has allocated Rs. 25 crore in this budget for the preparation of the DPR. He said Mekedatu and Yettinahole projects were the solution to drinking water woes of parched districts such as Kolar, Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagaram where the groundwater table had receded alarmingly.
