Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil has taken exception to the statement of Bharatiya Janata Party State president B.S. Yeddyurappa, who had said that he was ready even to fall at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get funds for the irrigation projects in the State.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Patil said that there was no need for any leader to fall at the feet of the PM for funds as it was the duty of the Union government to grant funds to the State governments under the federal system.
“If he (Mr. Yeddyurappa) is so keen to fall at the feet of the Prime Minister to get funds, let him first fall at his feet to get the loans of farmers in the State nationalised banks waived. The farmers of the State have borrowed around ₹41,000 crore from nationalised banks. Let Mr. Yeddyurappa get these funds cleared from the Union government,” he said.
Mr. Patil also urged Mr. Yeddyurappa to fall at the feet of Mr. Modi to get Mahadayi Inter-State river water dispute resolved.
“There are many issues the State is facing. If Mr. Yeddyurappa is so concerned about them and can get them resolved only by falling at the feet of the Prime Minister, then I urge him with folded hands to get the issues resolved in the interest of the State,” he said. He said that Union government was yet to release ₹1,200 crore to the State for implementing irrigation projects.
Mr. Patil, however, accused Mr. Yeddyurappa of political gimmicks by issuing such statements.
Replying to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s statement that he would get water from the Mahadayi released to Karnataka by December 15, Mr. Patil said, “Karnataka has got only canal network completed as the reservoir is yet to be built since it was falling under forest area which requires the Union government’s clearance. I don’t understand how he can get the water released without the reservoir,” he said.