Bengaluru, June 25 (IANS) Referring to the alarmingly decreasing levels of water at the KRS reservoir, the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has secretly released water to Tamil Nadu and questioned why CM Shivakumar is not taking strong decisions in the interest of the state.

Speaking at a press conference, BJP leader R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress government is releasing water to Tamil Nadu to please its alliance partner.

He further charged that this is the reason for the drop in water levels in the KRS reservoir. He said a meeting with farmers should have been called earlier to discuss this, as farmers in Mandya, Mysuru, Bengaluru city and other areas were depending on this water.

Ashoka said that when water levels are so low, an all-party meeting should have been convened. He added that the Tamil Nadu CM, who knows nothing about politics, has already decided not to allow the Mekedatu project to be implemented.

However, he said CM Shivakumar does nothing except visit temples and apply sacred ash. He questioned why he lacks the courage to take strong action and why he has not passed a condemnation resolution against them.

Ashoka said the KRS reservoir has a capacity of 124.80 feet, but currently has only 81.03 feet of water. Inflow is 689 cusecs, while outflow is 1,886 cusecs. He said this means an excessive amount of water is being released to Tamil Nadu.

He said the government has already announced that no water will be given for crops or canals. Farmers who have grown half their crops are protesting in distress due to a lack of water. He questioned where the 1,886 cusecs of water is going when no one is being given water, and alleged it is being secretly released to Tamil Nadu.

He said that in June, 9.19 TMC of water has to be released to Tamil Nadu.

Ashoka further demanded that the Bidadi Township project be dropped and that farmers’ land be saved.

He said CM Shivakumar and his supporters are saying whose land it is, other than the farmers’, and demanded that they release records on how much vacant land is available in the state.

He alleged they are hiding this and falsely accusing HD Kumaraswamy of making the Bidadi Township project. He informed that he has visited Bidadi three times and they will launch a massive agitation, with discussions underway regarding this.

Ashoka said nothing can be done in the next one-and-a-half years, and when their government comes to power, they will cancel the project. He alleged that they are planning to acquire 9,000 acres in Anekal and tried to acquire land near Devanahalli too, but farmers there did not allow it.

He said, on the one hand, they cut trees; on the other, they ask to plant, but the environment is being destroyed by Congress.

–IANS

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