Published Sep 28, 2026 | 6:21 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 28, 2026 | 7:11 PM
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Synopsis: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged the Centre to expedite clearances for Bengaluru infrastructure projects and key irrigation and water schemes, including the ₹16,745-crore Mekedatu project. In separate meetings with Union ministers Rajnath Singh and CR Patil, he sought Defence land approvals for roads, a public park and the Bengaluru Urban Vehicular Twin Tunnel Project, besides early decisions on several water-resource matters. He also sought Central assistance and faster clearances for the Upper Bhadra Project, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II award and other irrigation and water-management schemes.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged the Union government to expedite clearances for infrastructure projects in Bengaluru and irrigation projects, including the ₹16,745-crore Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project.
Shivakumar raised the issues separately with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil during meetings in New Delhi on Monday, 28 September.
He urged the Defence Ministry to expedite seven pending proposals involving Defence land, including land for a public park, roads and the Bengaluru Urban Vehicular Twin Tunnel Project.
He also urged the Ministry of Jal Shakti to take early decisions on several water-resource matters, including the Mekedatu project. In a letter handed over personally at Patil’s New Delhi residence, he said timely decisions were essential to meet Karnataka’s drinking water, irrigation and drought-mitigation requirements and enable the State to utilise its legitimate share of water resources.
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One proposal concerns about 730 acres of Defence land near the Iblur Firing Range in Bengaluru. Karnataka has proposed developing the land as a permanent public park and lung space for the capital city, with its use restricted to a public park and no commercial development. Ownership would remain with the Defence authorities.
The State has also sought a solution for 10 notified slums occupying about 43.838 acres of Defence land. It has proposed transferring government land of an equivalent area at a suitable alternative location, citing difficulties in identifying Equal Value Land within Bengaluru. It has sought urgent permission to repair and redevelop the slum areas, particularly because monsoon rains have caused flooding.
Building height restrictions around HAL Airport and Air Force Station Yelahanka were another issue. Karnataka has sought a review of restrictions within the 20-km radius of Defence airports, while maintaining flight safety. It has proposed that the mandatory requirement for a No Objection Certificate be limited to a 15-km radius from the aerodrome reference point.
The State has sought Defence land for a 24-metre road connecting Lower Agaram Road near the Government Hospital to Sarjapur Road through Ejipura Junction. The proposed road along Bellandur Lake is intended to improve east-south connectivity and reduce pressure on the Inner and Outer Ring Roads. Karnataka has requested early working permission, as the project has already been tendered and awarded.
For the Bengaluru Urban Vehicular Twin Tunnel Project, the State has sought 2.039 acres of Defence land for a ramp near Hebbal and permission for the tunnel to pass through Defence areas near Mekhri Circle without disturbing the surface land. It has objected to a proposed licence fee of 33 percent of the land cost, amounting to ₹60.72 crore, and sought its reduction to 2 percent.
Karnataka has also sought 6.837 acres of Defence land for an 18-metre-wide link road connecting Airport Road (Bellary Road) to Sarovara Layout. The State said the alignment had been designed without disrupting Defence operations.
Another request concerns widening the road at Mekhri Circle on Bellary Road. The Greater Bengaluru Authority has sought 0.775 acres from DGQA and PRTC to widen the existing two-lane road to three lanes and ease congestion at the junction on the route to the airport.
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Karnataka submitted the Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project, along with its compliance report, to the Central Water Commission on 13 August for appraisal. Shivakumar sought completion of the CWC’s appraisal on priority.
Shivakumar and Minister CR Patil.
On the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II Award, he sought urgent action by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to move and implead itself before the Supreme Court and seek early publication of the award in the Gazette.
The matter came up before the Supreme Court on 23 September and has been posted along with pending civil appeals for 4 November. Shivakumar said early notification of the award would enable Karnataka to utilise its allocated share of water and take up associated irrigation projects.
He also sought Central assistance for the Upper Bhadra Project, whose revised cost estimate of ₹21,167.93 crore was appraised at the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Advisory Committee meeting on 20 March.
Shivakumar asked Patil to recommend to the 16th Finance Commission that the project be included under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and that Central assistance be released at the earliest, as announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. He said timely funding was necessary to maintain the project’s momentum and ensure its benefits reached drought-prone areas of Central Karnataka.
Karnataka has also submitted proposals under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme covering irrigation development, modernisation, flood mitigation and other water-management interventions. Shivakumar asked the Centre to direct the CWC to complete their appraisal and accord the necessary clearances so that the State can access Central assistance.
On the Godavari-Cauvery Link and Bedti-Varada (Hirevadatti) Link projects, Karnataka has conveyed its in-principle concurrence to the National Water Development Agency for signing the Memorandum of Agreement, subject to certain considerations.
The State has sought a review of its proposed share and asked the NWDA to ensure an equitable allocation comparable with that proposed for other beneficiary States, taking into account Karnataka’s requirements and interests in the Krishna and Cauvery basins.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
