Karnataka ready to implement 3rd phase of Upper Krishna project but BJP MPs are scared of PM: Minister

“Karnataka is ready to implement the third phase of the Upper Krishna irrigation Project (UKP) if the Union Government were to issue a gazette notification towards this effect,” M. B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, said on March 5. He had arrived in Belagavi to participate in the inauguration of a Raja Gopura in the Sri Veerabhadreshwar temple in Yadur.

“The Union Government has already allowed us to go ahead with the process of increasing the height of the Almatti dam to 524 metres, and to take up the related tasks of land acquisition, civil work, like fixing gates and building canals,” he said.

“The State Cabinet has taken a historic decision to fix maximum amount for land loss compensation. This will be implemented once the work starts. However, we need help from our MPs, like Jagadish Shettar, Basavaraj Bommai and others, for this. It is the duty of BJP MPs from Karnataka to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a request to issue a gazette notification to enable Karnataka to go ahead with the work. But our MPs are not doing it. It seems BJP MPs are mortally afraid of meeting the Prime Minister and putting forth even genuine demands of the State they represent. It is unfortunate,” Mr. Patil said.