Mandya: Chief minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said the Karnataka govt would take steps to desilt the Cauvery and Tungabhadra reservoirs to improve their storage capacity and prevent wastage of water.Officials have been directed to formulate a programme and invite tenders for desilting the two reservoirs. The govt will study similar initiatives in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where advanced machinery is being used to remove accumulated silt and distribute it to farmers for use on agricultural land. Shivakumar said he or the irrigation minister would visit the two states to study the initiative and explore its implementation in Karnataka.Speaking after inaugurating the Cauvery Aarti at the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir, Shivakumar said the govt had earmarked Rs 100 crore to develop facilities for conducting the ritual regularly. Plans include an open-air stadium and arrangements to hold the Aarti every week, while preserving the spiritual and cultural significance of the Cauvery.Recalling the criticism he faced when the initiative was launched last year, Shivakumar said he welcomed criticism as it encouraged elected representatives to remain accountable. “Criticism may fade, but the work we do will remain,” he said, adding that he was committed to serving the people of Karnataka.Shivakumar also expressed confidence that the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project would move forward. He said the Supreme Court had provided clarity on Karnataka’s authority to pursue the project and that preparations were underway to allocate funds in the next Budget and hold the groundbreaking ceremony.The govt was also working to identify alternative land to compensate for more than 5,000 hectares of forest land required for the project, he added.
