The discussion in the Legislative Assembly on inter-State row over sharing of the Mahadayi waters saw the governing Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members blaming each other for the State not being able to find its way out of the legal muddle.
As soon as the debate on the Mahadayi row began in the House, BJP members tried to score a political point by staging a dharna to protest the absence of Ministers. The treasury benches looked almost empty when the discussion on issues related to north Karnataka began. The members withdrew the dharna after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and some of his ministerial colleagues returned to the House.
Launching a counter-attack on the BJP, Mr. Siddaramaiah remarked, “The ball is in your (BJP) court. When that is the case, why you are discussing the issue and also holding a protest here.”
On their part, the BJP members alleged it was the Congress which has to play a crucial role in resolving the row.
Janata Dal (S) member Kona Reddy, who initiated the debate, asked both the BJP and the Congress to play a pro-active role in resolving the row. Pointing out that 12 farmers had lost their lives in the fight for resolving the Mahadayi row, he expressed concern that compensation had been paid to the kin of only one. He urged the government to pay compensation to the kin of all the victims.
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Assembly passes three Bills
The Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed three Bills, including the Karnataka Repealing of Certain Enactments Bill, 2017, and the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the Karnataka Repealing of Certain Enactments Bill, 2017, was aimed at repealing 134 Acts enacted during 2012–15.
The House also passed the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2017, to incorporate the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
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Supplementary Estimates tabled
The Second Instalment of Supplementary Estimates for ₹7,476.86 crore was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Of this, ₹189.22 crore is for charged expenditure and the remaining ₹7,287.64 crore for voted expenditure. Net outgo from the Consolidated Fund is ₹6,670.86 crore, of which ₹1,008.63 crore is covered by the Central assistance. Of this amount, the Co-operation Department accounts for the highest, with a demand for ₹3,000 crore, which is mainly financial assistance to the Apex Bank towards farm loan waiver scheme.
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Balancing reservoir for TB dam: Meeting to be called
Minster for Water Resources M.B. Patil has said he would soon convene a meeting of elected representatives of the three districts concerned with regard to expediting the project to build a balancing reservoir at Navali in Gangavati taluk as an alternative to increase water storage which has been reduced due to silt accumulation in the Tungabhadra reservoir.
Replying to Congress member N.S. Bose Raju during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Mr. Patil said the proposal to dredge the reservoir was not feasible as over 35 tmcft of silt had accumulated from the last 64 years. Instead, a proposal to build balancing reservoir had been made and it would require 16,030 hectares of land and an investment of ₹6,000 crore. The proposal had been forwarded to the Tungabhadra Board and the issue would be pursued to get the required clearance, he said.
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Council approves public safety enforcement Bill
The Legislative Council on Wednesday approved the Karnataka Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Bill, 2017.
It was approved after Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who tabled the Bill, assured the House of making some modifications suggested by the members. Mr. Reddy assured the House that issues concerning increasing the penalty for defaulters and bringing government establishments under the purview of Bill would be addressed.
Although some members took exception to giving powers to the police, expressing apprehensions about misuse of power, the Minister justified the move by saying that since public safety was the responsibility of the police, they should have the authority to monitor and penalise defaulters. He also justified fixing specifications for the CCTV cameras to be installed saying that purpose would not be served if institutions and establishments installed low-quality cameras just for the sake of adherence.
Mr. Reddy said steps would also be taken to get surveillance cameras installed in government establishments and public places in the interest of public safety.
The Bill has already been passed by the Legislative Assembly.
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Guidelines soon on compensation disbursal
Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has said the State government will soon frame guidelines for ensuring that there will be no discrimination while fixing and disbursing compensation to families of affected individuals in cases of natural calamities, mishaps and other fatal incidents. He was replying in the Legislative Council on Wednesday after discussion over issue raised by BJP member Capt. Ganesh Karnik on disparity in compensation fixation and disbursement and lack of guidelines.
