BELAGAVI:
Speaking to media persons after holding a meeting with the farmers and activists of the Kalasa-Bhandura agitation here on Wednesday, Kulkarni said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was keen to solve the long-pending issue and would put forth the water crisis scenario prevailing in north Karnataka during the meeting in Mumbai.
“The state government had already collected complete information regarding the water crisis faced in north Karnataka and the need of the project. On direction of the chief minister we are collecting the opinions of the farmers and stakeholders, ” Minister Kulkarni said adding that the October 21 meeting could be more effective if Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the meeting and take concrete steps for implementation of the project.
The minister claimed that during the meeting convened by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, the environmentalists from that state who were opposing water sharing, have now given their consent for water diversion, but have asked to avoid damage to the forest.
He also informed that an all-party meeting to be convened in Bengaluru on October 19 will give a final shape to the matters to be produced before the October 21 meeting.
“The government will not do any injustice to the genuine farmers. The government would shortly take a decision on the demands of the farmers to disburse compensation for farmers of Malaprabha river basin,” Minister Kulkarni ascertained.
