Bengaluru: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his statement that the state has approved the proposed Krishna-Godavari-Cauvery river linking project, questioning how such approval could be granted before Karnataka’s share of water has been determined.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said he was not opposed to the river-linking project in principle, but maintained that the state should take a decision only after clarity emerges on Karnataka’s rightful share of water.
He said the Chief Minister should have first consulted irrigation experts, engineers and legal experts before making any announcement on a project involving major technical and legal issues.
Referring to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared in 2023, Kumaraswamy said it proposed the utilisation of 247 TMC of water, with 90 TMC earmarked for Andhra Pradesh and 60 TMC each for Telangana and Tamil Nadu. He alleged that Karnataka had no allocation in the original proposal.
The Union Minister claimed that only after the intervention of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda was 15 TMC of water from the Malaprabha River allocated to Karnataka for drinking water purposes.
Questioning the financial commitment announced by the state government, Kumaraswamy asked on what basis the Chief Minister had stated that Karnataka was prepared to invest ₹1 lakh crore in the project.
He also sought clarification on whether the proposal had been discussed or approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC) or the National Water Board before the state announced its support.
