Shobha Karandlaje demands transparency on KRS dam situation

Team Udayavani, Sep 3, 2023, 9:38 AM IST

Udupi: MoS Shobha Karandlaje, has called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to provide transparency on the status of the KRS Dam.

Addressing presspersons, she expressed concerns about the reduced rainfall in the state this year, leading to low dam levels. She emphasized that diverting water from the Cauvery River, which supplies drinking water to Bengaluru, Kolar, Mysore, Mandya, and Tumkur, to Tamil Nadu could result in water shortages during the summer.

Karandlaje urged the state government to engage in discussions with Tamil Nadu to ensure a fair water-sharing agreement.

She also noted that in the past, more irrigation water was released to Tamil Nadu than the agreed-upon amount and expressed concern about the excessive release of water this year to accommodate the “INDIA Team.”

She pointed out that the Congress government’s free guarantee schemes had disrupted the state’s finances, leaving insufficient funds for development projects and social security programs. Karandlaje stressed the importance of balancing welfare programs with financial responsibility.

Regarding transportation issues, she highlighted a decline in the number of route buses, resulting in losses for transportation companies and inadequate provision of electricity by the government.

Karandlaje proposed the concept of “One Country One Election” to streamline the electoral process, reduce election expenses, and promote development. She suggested that Lok Sabha and Assembly elections could be conducted simultaneously, as seen in Kerala, where Gram Panchayat, Municipal, and Assembly elections are held concurrently.

Addressing political matters, Karandlaje clarified that the BJP had no intentions of enticing Congress leaders to join their party, but she noted that the Congress had initiated such efforts. She urged BJP members to remain committed to the party, even in challenging times, and called on the Congress, which had completed 100 days in governance, to focus on delivering effective governance rather than poaching BJP members for power.