Bommai appeals not to oppose Bedti-Varada river linking project based on misconceptions

MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has appealed to the activists and seers not to not oppose the Bedti and Varada river linking project based on misconceptions as the project had been revised to ensure better utilisation of water.

Speaking to reporters in Haveri on Sunday, Mr. Bommai said that the project had already been revised, and it had been proposed to utilise only 10% of the available water for the project. “Moreover, water flow will not get affected. Everyone should extend cooperation to implement the project,” he said.

Referring to the opposition by Swarnawalli Math seer Gangadharendra Saraswati Swami to the Bedti-Varada river linking project, Mr. Bommai said that they respected the feelings of the seer and the people. “However our only plea is that the Opposition should not misconcieve things. This project was first proposed 30 years ago, which had the approval of the National Water Development Authority and one among the only three such projects in South India,” he said.

“The project has already been revised and water will be lifted from a barrage. There will be no large-scale utilisation but just 10%. It will not affect the flow of the river. Still the Detailed Project Report has to be prepared, environment impact study has to be conducted, and other procedures have to be followed. Experts will take a final call after getting the final report. Everyone should cooperate,” Mr. Bommai said.

Mr. Bommai said that the project was essential for the Haveri region, which faced severe drinking water problem. “Water will be drawn during rainy season and utilised in summer. This project will not affect anyone. Instead it will help drought-prone Haveri and other districts,” he said.

On the ‘vote theft’ campaign, Mr. Bommai said that Congress was making a futile attempt of trying to convert a lie into truth, and it would not make any impact. Their ‘vote theft’ campaign during the Bihar election resulted in the party losing very badly. But still the lesson had not been learnt, he said.

On the chargesheet filed against former BJP MPL Subhash Guttedar, he said the chargesheet should be proved in the court of law and truth would be revealed in the court.

Condemning the incident of moral policing in Savanur, Mr. Bommai said that it was not right to take law into one’s hands. If at all someone had committed a wrong, he should have been handed over to the police. Parading him on the streets with his clothes torn should not have been done. Because of the police inaction such incidents were happening, he said.