Published Nov 13, 2026 | 8:32 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 13, 2026 | 8:32 PM
Shivakumar said the Supreme Court had already ruled in Karnataka’s favour on the Mekedatu project and the matter had been legally settled.
Synopsis: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant statutory approvals for the Mekedatu reservoir project and withdraw the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats. He also urged the Centre to align corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending with Karnataka’s guidelines to upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday, 13 November urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant statutory approvals for the Mekedatu reservoir project, withdraw the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats and direct companies to spend their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in accordance with Karnataka’s guidelines to upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools.
“Cooperation between the Union and State governments is essential for Karnataka’s development and for addressing its challenges. In this regard, the Karnataka government is placing three important demands before the Prime Minister,” Shivakumar said, speaking at the inauguration of Cosmos – Mysuru Planetarium and Bharat Van in Mysuru.
Shivakumar said the Supreme Court had already ruled in Karnataka’s favour on the Mekedatu project and the matter had been legally settled. He urged the Union government to grant the remaining statutory approvals.
“The Union government should grant the final statutory approvals without further delay for this important drinking water project,” he said.
On the Kasturirangan report, he said the Karnataka Legislature had unanimously passed a resolution opposing its recommendations. He urged the Centre to withdraw them without affecting the livelihoods of people living in the Western Ghats.
“The Union government must respect the sentiments and ground realities of the people living there. The recommendations of the Kasturirangan report must be withdrawn without affecting the livelihoods of local communities,” he said.
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Shivakumar also sought the Centre’s intervention to ensure that companies’ CSR spending followed Karnataka’s guidelines, with the aim of upgrading 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools.
He cited the rise in migration to urban areas in search of education and employment, from 31 percent in 2002 to 47 percent in 2026.
“If this trend continues, it could reach 70 percent over the next two decades,” he said.
He urged the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs to issue advisory guidelines directing companies to implement CSR projects in accordance with the State’s guidelines.
“This will help upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools and further strengthen the public education system,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
