Centre not supporting State in completing UKP, claims Minister

The State government is committed to completing the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) and raising the height of Almatti dam to 524 m. But there is no support from the Union government, claimed Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil in Bagalkot on Sunday.

“Following clearances from the Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, the Supreme Court allowed Karnataka to take up the next phase of UKP work. But the Centre did not notify these decisions in the Union Gazette even after 13 years of such decisions,” he told reporters.

“That we are serious about the completion of the project is proven by the fact that we have already spent over ₹20,000 crore towards implementing the B Scheme of the project. But it is shameful on the part of the Union government that has failed to even gazette the notifications,” he said.

“BJP leaders who keep repeatedly asking questions like what has the Congress done for the UKP, let me tell them that it was I, as Irrigation Minister, who completed work on the project, impounded 120 tmcft of water up to 519 m and ensured irrigation for over 5.5 lakh hectares in North Karnataka. Then Chief Minister S.M. Krishna performed Ganga Puja to the dam for the first time. The project has benefited innumerable farmers in Karnataka. If we are seeking votes in Bagalkot, it is with this moral authority,” he said.

“The same BJP leaders who are raising questions about the project, should now answer why the Union government has failed to gazette the notifications that will enable us to go ahead with the next phase of the project,” Mr. Patil said.

“When we passed a resolution in the Assembly to request the Union government over this project, the BJP did not participate. Now, leaders like the former Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol are asking us to join them in an open debate on the project. This is condemnable,” he said.

“When the Bachawat Commission gave its verdict, then, there was a non-Congress government in the State. It did not take steps to impound water. But when I took charge as Irrigation Minister in 1999, I began the work of impounding water and fixing gates. Congress governments have contributed to the project at every stage,” Mr. Patil claimed.

“During my tenure as Water Resources Minister, we spent ₹8,200 crore on the UKP, for the dam and to develop it as a tourist destination. A comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programme was implemented. We were allotted the B Scheme, on our demand. In 2013, the Justice Brijesh Kumar Commission announced the final verdict. But it has not been published in the gazette yet,” he said.

“Some BJP leaders are giving excuses like the matter being in courts. But they forget that gazette notifications have been issued for the Mahadayi and the Cauvery distribution schemes when they were in courts. Why are they taking a different stand in the case of the Krishna? I don’t understand with what moral authority is the BJP seeking votes?” he said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who campaigned in Bagalkot for the BJP nominee Viranna Charantimath, said that there are some legal issues behind the delay in notification.

“Also, no government at the Centre will help you if you keep fighting with it. Your work will not be done if you keep abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi every day. You should learn from your neighbours in Andhra Pradesh who are very clever. They get their work done smoothly by meeting leaders and discussing issues with them. Karnataka should do the same,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.