Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday promised that they will complete Mekedatu project during the tenure of present Congress government to protect farmers of State. 

“Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said the Congress government is not thinking about Mekedatu project. Gowda and Prime Minister Modi are close. Gowda can talk to him directly and get permission for the Mekedatu project," Shivakumar said at the inauguration of Muttinamulusoge project of Periyapatna taluk in Mysuru district.

Accusing BJP MPs elected from the State over their silence on the Mekedatu project, Shivakumar said, “The BJP MPs are not speaking on behalf of the State. Why is not Pratap Simmha not doing anything; he can tell the Prime Minister and get permission. But nobody is raising their voice.” 

Instead of forest lands, revenue lands will be handed over for the project, he said. “We have informed officials of Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Mysuru and Bengaluru rural areas. The Forest Department officials have been instructed to count the trees, in the revenue land,” Shivakumar said. 

After the project materialises about 66 TMC of water can be harvested from the Mekedatu project, he said. “When there was no water in Harangi, Kabini, KRS, or Hemavathi reservoirs, we started Mekedatu Padayatra after worshipping Mother Kaveri to save our farmers.”

Accusing BJP and JD(S) of not keeping their promises, Shivakumar said, “Let the BJP-Janata Dal talk whatever they want. Because both parties have not kept their promises. Janata Dal is the mouthpiece of BJP.”

The KPCC President lashed out at BJP for politicising ‘Hindu’ religion. “Some people are doing politics of emotions while we are doing politics of livelihood. Livelihoods are more important than emotions. We are also Hindus and we also practice our traditions. BJP is capitalising on mantrakshathe while we believe that our schemes are the manthrakshathe for the problems of people,” he said. —Salar News