Mangaluru, DHNS: 'No move to take over Mahabaleshwara temple at Gokarna'. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he believes that the Central team that visited the Cauvery basin areas has understood the gravity of the situation in Karnataka.

He expressed confidence that Karnataka would get justice with regard to the Cauvery issue after the expert committee submits its report to the Supreme Court.

Speaking to reporters here at the Mangalore International Airport, Siddaramaiah said, “we have appraised the team of the severe water shortage in the state’s Cauvery basin. The team visited various reservoirs and areas to assess ground realities, including crop losses and drinking water requirement in the Cauvery region. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will take into consideration our point of view during the hearing on October 18,” he stated.

To a query on the Mahadayi water dispute, he said he will attend the meeting convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to sort out the issue.

Siddaramaiah said that after the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal had asked the states concerned to resolve the dispute amicably, he had written to his Goa and Maharashtra counterparts as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering to host the first round of discussions.

On Yettinahole

Asked whether the state government will go ahead with the proposed Yettinahole project in the wake of a recent report by the Indian Institute of Science that not more than nine tmcft of water was available, Siddaramaiah said experts have told the government that more than 24 tmcft of water was available. In any case, the project will not affect Dakshina Kannada district. A meeting on Yettinahole projet would be convened shortly.

He promised to consider the proposal by the elected representatives to implement the Paschimavahini scheme, aimed at constructing a series of check dams across the rivers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Gokarna temple

The chief minister clarified that there is no proposal before the state government either to appoint an administrator to Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt or take over the Mahabaleshwara temple at Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district.

The confusion was because of a PIL in the High Court. The court had sought to know the government’s stand on it. The Advocate General will submit in the court, the government’s stand on the Ramachandrapura Mutt and the Gokarna temple, he added.

To a query on his younger son Dr Yathindra, Siddaramaiah said he had just introduced him to the electorate of his constituency.

“Is it an offence to introduce my son to the electorate? Earlier, my elder son Rakesh was looking after my constituency and now Dr Yathindra is shouldering the responsibility.” He denied the charges that Dr Yathindra was holding meetings with officials and said, “how can he conduct an official meeting. He is knowledgeable.”

Siddaramaiah said the state budget will not be advanced unlike the Union budget and, presented in March.