New Delhi/Bengaluru: The state govt has revised the estimated cost of the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir to Rs 16,745 crore, an 86% increase from the Rs 9,000 crore estimate made in 2019, with chief minister DK Shivakumar seeking speedy appraisal and clearance of the project from Centre.Shivakumar raised the issue at his meeting with Jal Shakti minister CR Patil on Monday in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum seeking clearance of the revised detailed project report.The govt submitted the revised DPR based on 2026-27 price levels to Central Water Commission (CWC) along with a compliance report for its comments and observations on Aug 13.“There is no legal or any other impediment to the project,” Shivakumar says in the memorandum, while urging appropriate directions to CWC to complete appraisal of DPR “on priority and communicate the clearances at the earliest”.Tamil Nadu has vehemently opposed the project, arguing that it would affect its share of Cauvery river water.In a separate meeting with defence minister Rajnath Singh, Shivakumar sought permission to redevelop 10 slums spread across 44 acres of defence land in Bengaluru. The state has offered land of equal value outside the city in exchange.He also sought a reduction in licence fee for two acres of defence land at Hebbal Dairy Farm required for the Bengaluru twin tunnel project. The fee is currently close to Rs 61 crore, or 33% of the land value. Shivakumar wants it cut to 2%.Other requests included defence land for road widening near Mehkri Circle, a link road from Airport Road to Sarovara Layout and a 24-metre road connecting Lower Agaram Road to Sarjapura Road through Ejipura Junction.The CM also sought removal of height restrictions around HAL airport and Yelahanka Air Force Station. He proposed converting Iblur firing range into a public park and lung space without commercial development.Shivakumar also urged the Centre to hold off on finalising the proposed Western Ghats ecologically sensitive area (ESA) notification until Karnataka completes a physical survey.At a meeting with Union environment and forests minister Bhupendra Yadav in Delhi, Shivakumar submitted a memorandum seeking time for the state to conduct the survey and assess recommendations of the high-level committee before boundaries are finalised under Kasturirangan report. The state has opposed Centre’s proposed ESA boundaries, arguing that they will impact livelihoods of people living there.Shivakumar also urged Centre to revise Karnataka’s coastal zone management plan by considering “legitimate livelihood requirements and existing community patterns” of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.
