From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 20: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Water Resources Minister, said the State Government is unlikely to have Cauvery Water Sharing trouble this year and the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam, the mainstay of the Cauvery basin in the State, is expected to fill up in the next two to three days, thanks to the bountiful rains in the Cauvery catchment areas.

Speaking to media persons at the KPCC office on Saturday, he said the State Government is relieved of implementing the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s order on release of water to the neighbouring Tamil Nadu as water has been flowing to Biligondlu and Mettur dam.

“We are happy that there may not be any Cauvery water sharing problems this year and more importantly we will be able to release water to the farmers,” he said.

Shivakumar said the State Government will be able to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Steps will be taken to fill up the irrigation tanks in the State’s basin areas. However, the farmers need to be careful before undertaking paddy planting as it is still not clear as to how much water will be available for irrigation.

A suitable decision will be taken after consulting the Irrigation Department officials, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister indicated that the government has suspended boat riding in Ranganathittu and other surrounding areas as a precautionary measure. Red alert has been declared in the region.

Shivakumar said people in the coastal region were put to hardships due to landslides and collapse of houses. Ministers and MLAs are assisting the officials in undertaking relief works and helping the people.

He made it clear that the government has no problem for Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s visit to Ankola and other rain affected areas in Uttara Kannada.

The Deputy Chief Minister strongly defended the government’s decision to direct all boards and corporations to remit their funds in the State Treasury and said the move was to ensure transparency and misuse of funds.

Inactive DCC, Block Cong leaders being changed

The KPCC, who addressed a meeting of District and Block Congress Presidents and office-bearers at the party’s Bharat Jodo Bhavan, said inactive persons were likely to be changed and Congress party needs to be strengthened all over the State.

Shivakumar said the Congress legislators cannot hold party meetings in their homes and all party meetings must be held in DCC and Block Congress offices. The MLAs are free to meet party workers and people in their homes but the official meetings must be held in the party offices, he said.