Will take opposition into confidence on multiple corporations in Bengaluru says Shivakumar

    Bengaluru, Jul 7 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said the Greater Bengaluru Authority report would be placed before the Cabinet after taking opposition leaders into confidence.
    Speaking to reporters after a meeting with officials here, he said the BBMP Restructuring Committee has submitted its final report on the formation of corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
    "I have told the Committee chairman that the opposition leaders need to be taken into confidence on the report," Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development and water resource portfolios, said.
    The corporations would be formed within the existing boundaries of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and it would be expanded at a later date. "We have to discuss this in the Cabinet and conduct elections as early as possible."
    Asked about his meeting with Home Minister G Parameshwara on the Yettinahole project, he said there were some issues with the dam in Tumakuru district.
    The Yettinahole project, officially known as the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project, is aimed to address the acute shortage of drinking water in drought-prone districts of the state.
    It plans to divert water from west-flowing streams of the Western Ghats to cater to the drinking water needs of districts like Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Hassan, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Ramanagar, and Bangalore Rural.
    Shivakumar said the Water Resource Department is thinking of carrying the project forward without submerging any of the villages.
    "The local residents have suggested storing water in a couple of tanks and we will evaluate it. We will take everyone into confidence and discuss it in the Cabinet meeting," Shivakumar said.
    Regarding his Delhi visit on Tuesday, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "I am going to meet the Union Water Resource Minister as he has given us time to discuss forest land issues for the Yettinahole project in Hassan and Tumakuru districts."
    Asked if he would meet the party high command during his Delhi visit, he said, "Party office is like a temple for us. I make it a point to visit the party office and offer prayers."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)