DCM: Rs 2,000 crore for Cauvery basin areas

NT Correspondent
KRS (Mandya)

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today said that the government has cleared grants worth Rs 2000 crore for Cauvery basin areas including Rs 1000 crore for Mandya district. The DCM offered ‘baagina’ at KRS reservoir along with the Chief Minister.

“Last year we had released 305 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu, well above the stipulated amount of 177 TMC. In the year 2022- 23, we had released 400 TMC of water. It may be noticed that the water flow comes down drasti- cally once in three years,” Shivakumar said. He also appealed to all those opposing Cauvery aarti not to do it saying, ''water neither has caste nor religion. Worshipping water is in our tradition.”

“We have designated a location for the aarti half a kilometre away from KRS dam. Do we need someone’s permission to offer prayers? The Cauery aarti initiative will provide jobs for 1500 people from Mandya district. Development of Brindavan gardens will provide employment for 3,000 locals.

We are only making a place for people to be seated during the Cauvery aarti,” he said. “Our objective is to make Brindavan gardens an attractive tourist destination. We have made Dasara-style lighting and have obtained fountains from abroad.

The private sector is ready to invest in this,” he added. Reminding people that the Queen of Mysuru had once pawned her jewellery to raise funds for KRS dam, the Deputy CM said it is the lifeline of the region today. He also stressed that the government was committed to the Mekedatu project. ''We have even opened an office for the project in Kanakapura,'' he said.