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Bengaluru, Oct 9 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appreciated that Karnataka is doing the best work in Asia in filling lakes, saying civilization has developed only because of water.
Addressing the inauguration of the ‘Neeriddare Nale’ (If there is water, there is tomorrow) program organized by the Minor Irrigation Department at the Banquet Hall, the Chief Minister said, “Civilization has developed and survived only because of water. The Minor Irrigation Minister is implementing programs to spread awareness on water use, water conservation and groundwater recharge. This is a healthy development.”
Siddaramaiah appealed that people should be made aware about the need for water and the current water situation.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that groundwater is being extracted through 37 lakh borewells in Karnataka, adding that there are lakhs of unregistered illegal borewells.
“Reports show that groundwater utilization here is 8 per cent higher than the national average. Barring 144 taluks, all other taluks are facing water and groundwater shortage. For the same reason, the KC Valley Project was implemented to fill the lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur, which has led to groundwater recharge. However, there are people who are opposing this initiative.”
The Chief Minister said the government has spent thousands of crores of rupees to raise the groundwater level in Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur, Tumakuru and Bengaluru Rural districts.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Rs 2 lakh crore is required for the Upper Krishna Project and Rs 78,000 crore will have to be given only as compensation to the farmers.
“The Chief Minister called me in the morning and said that in three to four years we will have to give consent for the farmers’ takeover. When I took the initiative for Cauvery Aarti on the lines of Ganga Aarti, it was opposed. When a gate of the Tungabhadra Dam was broken, it was repaired within a period of 8 days. Siddaramaiah is ready to ensure the safety of all the reservoirs in the state.” He said.
Pointing out that the state government is committed to the welfare of farmers, he said the courts will have to come to the rescue of the state.
He said, “Whether it is Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, I say we do not want your share of water. Which is our right, they should not create hurdles for our state. They need to be helped. Students from all over the country have come to Bengaluru to study. They have come from Mumbai, North India and Tamil Nadu. We have not treated anyone like an outsider.”
–IANS
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