Vinod M Jain
“Protecting the State’s Wildlife is Our Right”.
Dharwad (Navalgund):Former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai said stated that efforts will be made to obtain clearance for the Mahadayi project from the National Board for Wildlife by meeting the Union Minister for Environment.
Today,he visited the protest site in Navalgund town, Dharwad district,where members of the Malaprabha-Mahadayi-Kalasa Banduri Farmers’Struggle Committee are staging a protest.After receiving their memorandum,he addressed the gathering.
He said they have never politicized issues concerning the land and water of our state.Even if others have played politics over it,they have not responded in the same way.The statement given by the Goa Chief Minister regarding Mahadayi is incorrect.
To protect the interests of Karnataka,they will take whatever steps are necessary.They (Goa) have no right to speak about our state.He strongly condemn their statements.The Mahadayi agitation has reached its final phase.
The MP recalled when BS.Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister and KS.Eshwarappa was the Irrigation Minister, the demand for Kalasa-Banduri water began.
Later,when he was the Irrigation Minister,he allocated Rs.300 crores and initiated the canal link project.To bring water from Mahadayi to the Malaprabha River,he created the Kalasa link canal.
The only remaining task is to create a link canal to the Banduri stream.The current state government must take further action.
The former CM said during the UPA government’s tenure, when Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister,the tribunal passed its verdict.
Even four years after the tribunal’s order,no office was provided to the tribunal chairperson.They had to fight again for that.
Work began three years after the tribunal’s order. Before he became the Chief Minister,while he was the Home Minister,he went to the central government and ensured the tribunal order was published in the Gazette.
Secondly,they got the DPR (Detailed Project Report) prepared and obtained the central government’s approval.
Thirdly, they required the environment ministry’s clearance,which he secured while he was the Chief Minister.Once the Environment Ministry gave approval, the process was considered complete.
Bommai said but now Goa is using wildlife as an excuse, protecting the wildlife of their state is their right—Goa has no authority to interfere in that.
“I have informed the Union Ministers of this too.They have assured to give us an appointment this week.As MPs representing the Mahadayi region—myself, Jagadish Shettar,P.C.Gaddigoudar,and several others — we will meet them again and make a strong case to obtain the necessary permission from the National Board for Wildlife.”
Former Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa and several farmer leaders were also present on the occasion.
