Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 18: Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced on Tuesday that he will be traveling to New Delhi to engage in discussions with Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil regarding the ongoing Pennar River water dispute and concerns over water flowing from the Kolar region towards Tamil Nadu.
Before departing for Delhi, Shivakumar explained that the Supreme Court had directed both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to hold discussions and resolve the water dispute. However, he noted that on Monday night, it was communicated that Tamil Nadu's representatives would not be attending the talks and would instead be filing a separate appeal.
"The real situation will become clearer once we reach Delhi. But I believe it is important not to reject the invitation, so I will attend the meeting and engage in discussions," Shivakumar said.
In addition to the primary issue, Shivakumar mentioned that if time allows, he plans to meet with other ministers, including the Forest Minister, to discuss various matters.
When asked about the recent incident at a construction site where an electric pole collapsed and led to the death of several women, Shivakumar stressed the importance of taking preventative measures to avoid such accidents. He confirmed that instructions have been issued to ensure safety at construction sites.
The Pennar River dispute remains a sensitive issue, especially regarding the proposed dam across the Markendeya River, a tributary of the Pennar. Shivakumar assured that the dam project would not impact Tamil Nadu, citing the water scarcity issues faced by Karnataka’s Kolar district.
Earlier, Shivakumar had highlighted the need for dialogue between the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to resolve the matter amicably. He expressed concerns over the lengthy and costly process of pursuing legal action, making dialogue the preferred option.
Shivakumar had previously engaged in talks with V. Somanna, Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Railways, who hails from Karnataka, to discuss the issue.