K'taka Govt to take up work on Kabini project soon

Bangalore, July 17 (UNI) Karnataka Water Resources Minister K S Eshwarappa today informed the Assembly that the State Government will soon take up work on the second stage of Kabini dam in the Cauvery basin.

Replying to an issue raised by Mr Vatal Nagaraj of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, he said the Government had already held a high-level meeting with officials in this regard.

Criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi 's recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking a direction to Karnataka to release water from Cauvery basin reservoirs, Mr Eshwarappa said political leaders in Tamil Nadu were politicising the issue.

He said the State Government would accord top priority to protect the interests of farmers in the State while releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

UNI