Will discuss drought in special session, irrespective of whether BJP cooperates or not: Karnataka Chief Minister

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said the State government will discuss the drought situation and problems faced by farmers during the three-day special session of the State legislature, irrespective of whether BJP legislators cooperate with the government.

Addressing a press conference at the Aiwan-e-Shahi guest house in Kalaburagi, Mr. Shivakumar said the first day of the session will be devoted to the K. Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats and the next two days to the drought situation.

“BJP leaders did not allow us to conduct the last session properly, as they are not concerned about the problems being faced by farmers and the poor. This time, we will discuss the drought issue and take an appropriate decision, no matter whether BJP legislators cooperate or not,” he said.

Mr. Shivakumar also said he would lead a delegation comprising government representatives and Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok and BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, to New Delhi to seek financial assistance from the Union government for drought relief.

When asked about the looming drinking water crisis in Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts, owing to the scarcity of water in the Bhima, the Chief Minister said he would speak to his Maharashtra counterpart and seek the release of water from reservoirs into the river.

On the proposed balancing reservoir at Navali in Koppal district, Mr. Shivakumar described the agreement among the Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana governments as a “historic development”. He said the project would help compensate for the loss of storage capacity in the Tungabhadra reservoir caused by the accumulation of silt.

“Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments were not ready to discuss the issue. Recently, we, the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, held a meeting in the presence of the Union Jal Shakti Minister and reached a consensus on the issue,” he said.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge, Kalaburagi Lok Sabha member Radhakrishna Doddamani and legislators M.Y. Patil, Allamprabhu Patil, Jagadev Guttedar, and Tippannappa Kamaknur were among those present.