From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Belagavi, Dec 29: Karnataka secures Centre’s approval for the long-delayed Kalasa Banduri Nala Project, which would help in providing drinking water and irrigation facilities to parts of the Northern Karnataka region.
Announcing the Centre’s approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Kalasa Banduri project, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Belagavi that the State Government would immediately proceed with the tenders and also construction of the pumphouse.
The Belagavi legislature session, which is going to be curtailed ahead of the schedule on Thursday itself, unanimously passed a resolution expressing the State’s gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekhawat and also Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their interest and support for protecting the interests of Karnataka.
Addressing media persons outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belagavi, Bommai also thanked the Union Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi for following up the project and helping in ensuring Centre’s early approval for the DPR.
Bommai pointed out that the project was mooted when his father S R Bommai was the chief minister and he had held discussions with the then Goa chief minister Pratap Singh Rane in 1988 and had finalized the Kalasa Banduri Nala project.
The project was initially proposed as a drinking water cum irrigation and power generation project with Karnataka getting the right to utilize the water while Goa will be provided with power as part of the barter deal. However, the agreement failed to materialize and later there were modifications.
The Kalasa Banduri Nala project involves the diversion of Malaprabha water at the origin of the Mahadayi river in Goa at Kakambi and is aimed at meeting drinking water and hydel component, Bommai explained, pointing out that previously a retention wall for impounding water had also been built.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the opposition parties former chief minister and Janata Dal (S) H D Kumaraswamy has said this is a victory for all the Kannadigas while AICC general secreatary Randeep Singh Surjewala has said that Congress party's scheduled water rally in Hubballi on January 23, 2023 has struck the whip on BJP-led Centre. Both the laeders have also reminisced the struggles of their respective parties in getting the Centre's nod for Kalasa Banduri project.