Mandya: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy has reiterated his commitment to the Mekedatu drinking water project.Speaking to reporters Sunday, the Mandya Lok Sabha MP said the proposed reservoir at Mekedatu is intended solely to meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru and surrounding areas and urged Tamil Nadu to support the initiative.“The project will benefit both states, and water issues should not be politicised for electoral gains,” he said.He said even his father and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda had met PM Narendra Modi and presented a case for it with a delegation of legislators.He said Modi had also said the issue should be resolved between the two riparian states.Kumaraswamy also criticised Congress leaders for questioning the commitment of Karnataka MPs on interstate water disputes. He alleged that senior Congress functionaries, including Mallikarjun Kharge, remained silent on Cauvery, Upper Bhadra and Krishna river projects.—–BOXNEET lapses should not recur: MinisterKumaraswamy said NEET UG paper leaks and the resulting uncertainty have deeply affected students and their families. There have even been tragic cases of students taking extreme steps. Such incidents must never recur, he said.Stressing the need for systemic reforms, he urged authorities to learn from the lapses and implement strict safeguards to protect the integrity of competitive examinations.
