Opposition Should Avoid Politicising Bidadi Township; Second Airport in Tumakuru Will Benefit 20 Districts.
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara said that several taluks in Tumakuru district are facing a severe drought situation due to inadequate rainfall, and that he will visit the affected taluks on Monday and Tuesday to personally review the situation.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Dr. Parameshwara said that the Chief Minister and he had already divided the State into three divisions and reviewed the drought situation in each taluk. “I have personally visited and inspected four to five districts. I had also reviewed the situation in Tumakuru district. However, severe drought conditions continue to prevail in a few taluks, including Sira, Chikkanayakanahalli and Pavagada. I will visit these places on Monday and Tuesday and conduct a first-hand assessment,” he said.
He said that barring the Malnad and coastal districts, most parts of the State have not received adequate rainfall. Water levels in the KRS and Kabini reservoirs have improved marginally. Due to rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, the Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs in North Karnataka have also received some inflows. “However, the situation in the dry and semi-arid regions remains serious. Therefore, we will undertake a comprehensive review of the drought situation. Certain measures have already been initiated, and the issue is also likely to be discussed in the Legislature,” he said.
Responding to a question on the allocation of portfolios, Dr. Parameshwara said there was no confusion over the matter. “The Chief Minister discussed the issue with the party high command yesterday. It is natural for newly appointed ministers to initially have certain doubts or confusion. Subsequently, the concerned officials brief them in detail. We too went through the same experience when we became ministers for the first time. They are capable of responding in the Legislature as well, and there will be no problem,” he clarified.
Responding to a question on Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urging people not to pay toll on the NICE Road, the Deputy Chief Minister said that his opposition to the project was not new. “He has been opposing it for a long time. We are trying to resolve the issues surrounding the project at the earliest. I have been appointed Chairman of the sub-committee and have already held seven to eight meetings. We have classified the issues into three categories — A, B and C — and are discussing the nature of the problems under each category,” he said.
Dr. Parameshwara said that the project could not simply be stopped after so many years. “We will examine all the issues within the legal framework and try to resolve them. The benefits as well as any misuse associated with the project can be examined subsequently. At present, the project has to be completed,” he said.
Responding to a question on the BJP-JD(S) padayatra over the Bidadi issue, Dr. Parameshwara said, “They have the right to protest, and they may do so. The Chief Minister has stated that there is a proposal to establish a major Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre there. In such a situation, it would be better if the Opposition viewed the development from a constructive perspective rather than politicising the issue,” he said.
On Union Minister V. Somanna writing a letter proposing that Bengaluru’s second airport be established in Tumakuru, Dr. Parameshwara said he had been advocating the idea from the beginning. “We have to examine its technical feasibility as well as the extent of its utility. If the airport comes up in Tumakuru, it will benefit nearly 20 districts. It will also be easier to establish connectivity with the existing Kempegowda International Airport. However, the DGCA will have to examine whether the proposal is technically feasible,” he said.