From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 2: With Krishnarajasagar Dam and the Kabini Dam filled to the brim, thanks to the copious rains in the Cauvery catchment areas, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday offered ‘’Bagina’’ to both dams.

“I am very happy that the KRS and Kabini dams are full,’’ the Chief Minister said pointing out that the dams were a lifeline to the farmers of Mandya and neighbouring districts.

Bommai’s cabinet colleagues Govind M Karjol, S T Somashekar, Narayana Gowda, Munirathna and Lok Sabha members Pratap Simha as well as Sumalatha Ambarish along with legislators of Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts accompanied him.

The Chief Minister said he was extremely happy that the dams in the Cauvery basin had filled up in the beginning of November itself. “We will have problems on sharing water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu as well as meeting the requirements of our farmers,’’ he said.

Bommai recalled that he had accompanied his predecessor Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa last year for offering bagina to Kabini dam last year as the State’ Home Minister with Yediyurappa. “I am proud and happy I am able to offer bagina to both Kabini and KRS this year as the State’s Chief Minister,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister said the State Government was examining a proposal for establishing a garden on the lower parts of Kabini dam on the model of the Brindavan gardens. The government is looking into the proposal to establish the garden on its own or in PPP model, he said adding that a decision will be taken soon.

Answering questions, the Chief Minister said the government is considering a demand for providing permanent solution to the inundation of the areas and houses on the lower parts of the Kabini dam, especially during floods, and sought the cooperation of the people in this regard.

In response to another question on recommending Padmashri award posthumously to Kannada cinema actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away last week, Bommai said the recommendations on grant of Padmashri and other national awards has to be done after following procedures. There is no doubt that Puneeth Rajkumar was a very talented and deserving person and well respected by all sections of society. “But these things cannot be publicly discussed and the formalities need to be followed,’’ he added.