Efforts are on to get clearance for Mahadayi, says Bommai

BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has said that efforts are being made to obtain the required clearance for the Mahadayi project from the National Board for Wildlife after meeting the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

He was addressing members of Malaprabha-Mahadayi Kalasa Banduri Raita Horata Okkuta in Navalgund of Dharwad district after visiting their protest site and receiving a memorandum from them on Sunday.

Mr. Bommai termed the statement of the Goa Chief Minister on the Union Minister’s assurance of not allowing Mahadayi project as incorrect and that he condemns it strongly. All efforts required will be made to protect the interests of Karnataka, he added.

The former Chief Minister said that when he was the Water Resources Minister ₹300 crore was allocated for the project and the canal project work was initiated.

Then, the Kalasa canal was constructed. The work that is remaining now is only to link the Kalasa canal to the Banduri stream, for which the Siddaramaiah government has to take steps, he said.

Emphasising that the BJP always works towards facilitating the project, he it was during the BJP tenure that the Centre published the gazette notification of the award. The detailed project report was approved and even environmental clearance was given.

“However, now Goa is using wildlife as an excuse. Protecting the wildlife of our State is our duty and Goa has no authority to interfere in it. I have informed the Union Minister on this and he has promised to give us an appointment this week. As MPs representing the Mahadayi region, myself, Jagadish Shettar, P.C. Gaddigoudar and others will meet him and prevail upon them to get the required clearance,” he said.

The former Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa and several farmer leaders were also present.