Govt prioritizes drinking water amid farmers' demands

Bengaluru

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reiterated that providing drinking water remains the government's foremost priority. His statement came after a meeting with a delegation of farmers urging the release of water for irrigation.

Minister Sharanabasappa Gowda Darshanapur, along with representatives from the Karnataka State Farmers' Association and Farmers' Army, met Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence on Wednesday. The delegation requested water supply from the right and left canals of the Narayanapur Basavasagar Reservoir until April 15 to sustain crops across 89,000 hectares.

Shivakumar acknowledged their concerns but reminded them that farmers had been advised against growing a second crop due to limited water availability. He stressed the importance of resolving water-sharing issues between states instead of relying on central intervention. He also confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had reached out to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding Krishna river water concerns.

Responding to political opposition, Shivakumar criticized BJP’s protests against milk price hikes, stating, "Milk and curd are still cheaper in Karnataka than in other states." He challenged BJP leaders to reduce fuel and fodder prices if they were truly concerned.

Defending Bengaluru's revised water tariffs, he explained that the BWSSB faces Rs 1,000 crore in annual losses. He assured that the one paisa per litre hike would not burden the poor.

He also accused BJP of politicizing waste management fees and questioned Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's stance on milk prices.