Centre adopts step motherly treatment towards K'taka: Minister

Bangalore, Aug 4 (UNI) Karnakata Water Resources Minister K S Eshwarappa today alleged that the Centre had meted out 'step motherly' treatment to the state by directing to divert Rs 2410 crore, earmarked for irrigation under the 'Vidarbha Package' to other schemes.

Speaking to mediapersons here, he said the Centre had done injustice to the state by taking such a step. However, the state would go ahead with the 17 irrigation schemes as mentioned in the proposals and spend on its own under a new name '' CM and DCM package'' instead of the '' PM's package,'' he added.

Mr Eshwarappa said the Centre had approved finance for four projects in Krishna basin and another one and sanctioned an amount of Rs 1,208 crore. But the state had not received any amount yet.

These projects would be funded by the state henceforth and completed in the next four years, he added.

On Kalasa Banduri, he said the state government was committed to implement the project, aimed at providing drinking water to the North Karnataka region. The State would file a reply to the Supreme Court soon in this regard. The issue might lead to a people's movement if the Centre delayed its decision, he warned.

The Minister took exception to the remarks of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the city yesterday, appealing to the Congressmen to be prepared for early polls and said the Bharatiya Janata Party was also ready to go to the people if there was no transfer of power from the Janata Dal (Secular) on October three, as decided earlier.

UNI