Ballari Chalo: Vijayendra Seeks Parallel Reservoir if Tungabhadra Desilting Is Unviable, Demands Assembly Debate on Cost
Gangavathi/Vijayanagara/Bengaluru, September 5: Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra has demanded an immediate decision on constructing a parallel reservoir if experts conclude that desilting the Tungabhadra reservoir is technically or financially unviable, and called for a comprehensive Assembly debate on the project’s estimated cost, completion period and financial burden on the state.
Speaking during the fifth day of the BJP’s Ballari Chalo padayatra, Vijayendra said the government should immediately obtain an expert assessment on whether the large quantity of silt accumulated in the Tungabhadra reservoir can be removed scientifically.
He said that if experts conclude that desilting is either impossible or economically unviable, the government should allocate funds in the Budget and proceed with a parallel reservoir without further delay. Farmers should not be made to wait another four or five years, he said.
Vijayendra said the reservoir was stated to contain around 34 TMC of silt and demanded clarity from the government on the technology that could be used for desilting, the time required and the likely cost.
He said ₹14 crore had previously been earmarked for preparing a Detailed Project Report for a parallel reservoir but the proposal had not progressed. Referring to an estimated project cost of around ₹22,000 crore, he sought a detailed discussion in the Assembly on the initial estimate, likely final cost, completion schedule and financial implications for Karnataka.
Vijayendra said a project should not begin with estimates of ₹15,000 crore or ₹22,000 crore only for the cost to rise to ₹35,000 crore by completion. Since taxpayers’ money was involved, the opposition also had a responsibility to raise questions, he said.
He said the BJP would raise the Tungabhadra reservoir, the proposed parallel reservoir, irrigation and the problems of North Karnataka farmers during the special Assembly session. Vijayendra said the opposition had responsibilities comparable to those of the ruling party and that the agitation would continue until solutions were found for farmers’ problems.
The fifth day of the Ballari Chalo padayatra began with the felicitation of teachers to mark Teachers’ Day. Vijayendra later performed a cow worship ceremony at Karatagi, received blessings from elders and visited the Sri Channabasaveshwara temple, where he offered prayers.
The BJP said the fifth day covered around 20 km and concluded near Marali village close to Gangavathi. The party claimed the march received strong public support in villages along the route, with farmers, women and party workers joining or welcoming participants.
During the march, Vijayendra also shot an arrow from a bow brought by a supporter, which the party described as a symbolic act representing the destruction of evil.
Former minister B. Sriramulu, MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former MLA Renukacharya, Madalu Mallikarjun, Rajugowda, Janardhan Reddy, MLC Ravikumar, Doddanagouda Patil, Halappa Achar, Basavaraj Dadesugur and other party leaders and workers participated.
Turning to the Congress government, Vijayendra described it as an “advertisement government” rather than a popular government and alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was frustrated by the growing response to the Ballari Chalo campaign.
He claimed the agitation had prompted the Chief Minister to conduct an aerial inspection of drought-affected areas and visit North Karnataka wearing a green shawl, describing this as a victory for the BJP’s campaign.
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