New Delhi, 12 June

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil to push for the implementation of the Supreme Court's Mekedatu order on the Kaveri River, a resolution on the Krishna water award, and to address pending releases under the Mahadayi water project.

A day earlier, Shivakumar had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to expedite the clearance for the project that has pitted Karnataka against Tamil Nadu.

After meeting Patil, Shivakumar told reporters, “We have raised the issue of the Mahadayi water issue. We were supposed to get Rs 5,300 crores, which has been kept in the Cabinet company, still not been released.”

On X, Shivakumar added, “I urged the Union Government to expedite clearances and support for key initiatives, including Mekedatu, notification of the KWDT II Award, release of committed assistance for the Upper Bhadra Project, and approvals for the Kalasa Banduri projects, along with other proposals pending before the Union Government”.

He said that these were critical for irrigation, drinking water security, drought mitigation, and the welfare of millions of farmers across the State and was hopeful he would get a positive response.

In Delhi, Shivakumar also met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan.