K'taka Govt to implement Kabini II stage: Yediyurappa

Mysore, Apr 16 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today said the Government was committed to implement the Kabini II stage irrigation project in the Cauvery basin districts.

Speaking to newspersons at Chamarajanagar, he said he would speak to the Ministers concerned to take up the project and there was no dearth of funds for it. The long-pending project would help farmers, particularly from Chamarajanagar districts, one of the most backward districts in the State.

Referring to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award, Mr Yediyurappa said the Government had taken steps to file a review petition in the Supreme Court and appeal before the Tribunal.

On waiver of farm loans taken from cooperative banks, he urged the Union Government to take such steps through nationalised banks to help the peasants.

He said that by implementing the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations for State Government employees, the exchequer would entail an additional financial burden of Rs 1,400 crore. It also stands to lose Rs 2,000 crore owing to ban on lottery and sale of arrack in the State.

Later addressing the BJP's Vikas Yatra at Santhemarahalli in Chamarajanagar district, Mr Yediyurappa came down heavily on the Congress for working with a single-point agenda of criticising the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State.

Denying the charge that the party had been hijacking Government programmes and policies for gaining political mileage by holding such yatras, he said the achievements were that of both the coalition partners.

UNI