'Making comments without proper information': K'taka CM slams Union minister's remarks

Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda had blamed the state government for delays in two projects involving the Central government.
'Making comments without proper information': K'taka CM slams Union minister's remarks
'Making comments without proper information': K'taka CM slams Union minister's remarks

A war of words has broken out between the Centre and the Karnataka government just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office for the second term.

In a series of tweets, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday rebutted statements given by Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda blaming the state government for slowing down two projects involving the Centre. The two projects are the Mekedatu water project and the long-awaited suburban rail project.

“We are here to give it a push. We do not want to indulge in politics on any issue -- be it Mekedatu or the suburban rail project. We are willing to work with the state government for the implementation of these projects. But when there are allegations against us, we have to respond,” Sadananda Gowda told reporters on Monday.

He added, “The state government is yet to submit a plan of action for the suburban rail project despite Centre assuring all cooperation… From the Central government, we have done everything, but the project is still not moving forward.”

In his retort on Tuesday, the CM tweeted, “Union Minister DV Sadanada Gowda making comments about projects involving the state without proper information is not ideal. The Mekedatu plan had already been submitted to the Centre. Not only the DPR (detailed project report) but also the feasibility report has been sent.”

In the next tweet, Kumaraswamy said, “In February, we had discussed the issue with Piyush Goyal (the Railway Minister) and following that meeting we passed a resolution in the state cabinet to that effect.”

He added, “According to the letter dated 28 may, we are taking measures to implement SPV. Those who say ‘no politics in development’, should support us by providing assistance.”

Suburban rail

The long-elusive suburban rail service like that of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata for Bengaluru has been put on the back burner for decades by successive state and Central governments. While public pressure has restarted the conversation, little has moved in reality.

One major advancements took place on February 22 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, with a meeting being held between Rail Minister Piyush Goyal and Kumaraswamy. Following the meeting, the duo held a joint press conference endorsing the detailed project report prepared by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES).

However, in a major development in April, the PMO backtracked on the conditions assured by Piyush Goyal which included free railway land for the project. The PMO also suggested that the entire project be broken into smaller projects in a Public-Private Partnership.

Mekedatu

The controversial project involves building a multi-purpose balancing reservoir, the Mekedatu gorge, located about 100 km from Bengaluru, at the Kanakapura taluk in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district. Apart from the stiff opposition from lower riparian neighbour Tamil Nadu, the project has seen

opposition on environmental grounds as it involves encroachment of forest land, including an elephant corridor.

Despite the objections from Tamil Nadu, the Central government has given its preliminary nod to the controversial Mekedatu project's detail project report and pre-feasibility report. However, in the midst of the Lok Sabha elections, the Centre did not respond to Karnataka’s demands. Meanwhile, the Cauvery Water Management Authority recorded Tamil Nadu's objections to the project in December 2018.

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