BJP leader urges center to convene meeting on Mahadayi

Hubli, June 30 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yadiyurappa today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of both Karnataka and Goa Chief Ministers to settle the Kalasa Bandori drinking water project (Mahadayi diversion) immediately.

Talking to newsmen here, he also demanded a clarification from UPA chair person and congress president Sonia Gandhi on her statement during Goa electioneering recently that her party would not allow the implementation of Mahadayi diversion project at any cost.

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Mr Yadiyurappa informed that so far there was no communication either from the center on convening a meeting of both chief ministers, though the congress leaders were claiming that they have been assured such meeting and settling the issue.

The work on Kalasa Bandori has already been commenced and the state has the protection of the Supreme Court. The congress leaders, who are holding press conferences and intimating the media on the outcome of their visit to Delhi, have not even wrote a single letter to the chief minister on their visit he complained.

Mr Yadiyurappa said the much awaited liquor ban in the state would come into force from 2200 hours today and all necessary measures have been taken up for the implementation of the ban, which no governments so far dared to do in the state.

He said about 15,000 liquor shops would be closed by tonight and hoped that sale of Indian made liquor (IML) which is 12 lakh boxes per day would get doubled due to liquor ban. Steps were also being taken to set up a special police station at every taluk in the state to check illicit liquor.

Replying to a question, Mr Yadiyurappa said the government would consider liberalizing of bar licenses instead of opening new liquor shops. The government would also consider sympathetically to rehabilitate the people involved in liquor business on the lines of other states where the ban existed.

To another question on farmer's opposition for providing additional land to TATAs, to manufacture of small cars, when the company has not fully utilized the land already in its possession near Dharwad, Mr Yadiyrappa said the land was being given on a condition that they use it fully within five years.

UNI