Karnataka - Shimoga

Bangarappa threatens Singur-type stir against Dandavati project

Making a point: Former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa addressing presspersons in Shimoga on Saturday.

SHIMOGA: S. Bangarappa, Shimoga MP, said on Saturday that he would launch a Singur-type agitation if the State Government went ahead with its decision to implement the Dandavati Irrigation Project in Sorab taluk.

Addressing presspersons here, he said that he had been opposing the project for 40 years as it was not feasible. Dandavati did not have the potential for irrigation as it was only a stream.

“Besides, approval of other riparian State Andhra Pradesh is necessary for the project as a case pertaining to sharing of waters in the Krishna basin in accordance with the recommendations of the Bachawat Tribunal is pending in the Supreme Court,” he said.

Mr. Bangarappa said that when problems of the families displaced by the Sharavathy Hydel Project were not solved even 50 years of its implementation where was the necessity to take up another project which would also displace many people?

He said that he would not allow the project to come up under any circumstance.

Mr. Bangarappa said that his party would not field candidates for the coming byelections to the Assembly from eight constituencies, but would extend support to secular parties such as Congress and Janata Dal (S) with a view to defeating the “communal” BJP candidates.

He, however, hinted that his party would go in for a pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the next Lok Sabha elections.

He said that it was possible for the secular parties in the State to arrive at a broad understanding before the Lok Sabha elections were announced. While confirming that he would seek re-election from Shimoga, he said that his party might contest for three or four seats.

Mr. Bangarappa said that Mr. Yeddyurappa would not retain the independent MLAs in the Cabinet if his party won three seats in the coming byelections.

Terming the financial situation in the State precarious, he said while there had been a steep fall in mobilisation of resources following the ban on arrack. Collection from other revenue earning sources had also come down considerably.

“If there is any collection of revenue, it is only through the Commercial Tax and Transport Department,” he said. He said the fact that many cheques issued under various welfare schemes bounced spoke of the poor financial status of the Government.

He criticised the manner in which the Government had handled the situation arising out of attacks on churches and called for banning Bajrang Dal.

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