No legal hurdles to Mekedatu project: Siddaramaiah

Brushing aside the opposition by Tamil Nadu, chief minister Siddaramaiah said today that there were no legal hurdles to the construction of the dam across the river Cauvery at Mekedatu.

The dam project report (DPR) was being prepared and once it was ready, construction would be taken up, he told mediapersons here at Mandakalli airport. He alleged Tamil Nadu was raising the issue for political gains and there was no substance in it.

Siddaramaiah, who was on his way to D Salahundi, reiterated that the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendments) Bill, which was tabled before the state legislature during the winter session of the Assembly in Belagavi recently, would be dropped. "A joint session of the state legislature will be convened by January-end. The Bill will be discussed as it has been placed before the Assembly. After discussion, it will be withdrawn," he said.

He said the Yeddyurappa government itself had drawn up a Bill to control mutts and religious institutions. Considering the wide-spread opposition, it had been decided to withdraw the Bill.

Replying on the allegations against minister HC Mahadeva Prasad and MLA GT Deve Gowda on denotification of lands, Siddaramaiah said action would be taken if anyone was found to have violated the law, whatever may be their status.

In order to ensure water for drinking and agriculture, the chief minister said water was being filled up in tanks, dams and canals. He later left for Chamarajanagar to launch the second phase of filling water in about 20 tanks.

On breaking the tradition in appointing a former MLC, VR Sudarshan, as Karnataka Public Service Commission chairman, Siddaramaiah defended the same citing earlier nominations.