Siddaramaiah Awaits Congress Nod for Cabinet Revamp, Vows to Push Mekedatu Project
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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is waiting for the Congress high command's approval to reshuffle his Cabinet, which has been in limbo since two ministers resigned. Speaking in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said he has requested a meeting with Rahul Gandhi to discuss the reshuffle and is set to visit New Delhi on November 15. The reshuffle has been pending for weeks, with two Cabinet seats remaining vacant. Although party insiders suggested that the move may be delayed until after the Bihar Assembly elections on November 14, state agriculture minister N Chaluvarayaswamy hinted that it could be finalized by the end of November. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah reaffirmed his government's commitment to the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, a contentious issue with Tamil Nadu. The project aims to create a reservoir across the Cauvery River to regulate water release and provide drinking water to Bengaluru. Despite Tamil Nadu's concerns that it would reduce its share of the Cauvery supply, Siddaramaiah insists that the project will benefit both states by preventing excess water from flowing into the sea and ensuring availability during dry spells. The project has been stalled for over a decade due to legal and political disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka argues that the reservoir will help regulate water release to Tamil Nadu, while Tamil Nadu fears it will reduce its share of the Cauvery supply. Siddaramaiah also addressed concerns over crop losses in northern Karnataka, which were caused by excess rain. Preliminary assessments indicate that around 11,00,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged. The state government has initiated compensation measures, with farmers growing perennial crops set to receive ₹31,000 per hectare and those in irrigated regions receiving ₹25,500 per hectare. The government is also exploring long-term solutions to mitigate weather-related distress.
