<p>Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar has said that the state goverment was keen on diverting west-flowing rivers in Karnataka for providing drinking water to Bengaluru, Kolar and surrounding areas.</p>.<p>Speaking to media persons at Hubballi airport on Sunday, the minister said that Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari had called a meeting on river-linking projects on August 20 and the state government would put forward its case for river diversion, strongly.</p>.<p>Environmentalists are strongly opposing the plan to divert west-flowing rivers which originate in the Western Ghats.</p>.<p>Shivakumar said that the government was hopeful of a favorable verdict from the Mahadayi Tribunal on August 20.</p>.<p>He said that the department was looking at option of providing ‘rental compensation’ to the farmers who would lose their land for two-three months after the height of the Almatti reservoir is increased.</p>.<p>“We will allow cultivation when the lands are not submerged,” he said.</p>
<p>Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar has said that the state goverment was keen on diverting west-flowing rivers in Karnataka for providing drinking water to Bengaluru, Kolar and surrounding areas.</p>.<p>Speaking to media persons at Hubballi airport on Sunday, the minister said that Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari had called a meeting on river-linking projects on August 20 and the state government would put forward its case for river diversion, strongly.</p>.<p>Environmentalists are strongly opposing the plan to divert west-flowing rivers which originate in the Western Ghats.</p>.<p>Shivakumar said that the government was hopeful of a favorable verdict from the Mahadayi Tribunal on August 20.</p>.<p>He said that the department was looking at option of providing ‘rental compensation’ to the farmers who would lose their land for two-three months after the height of the Almatti reservoir is increased.</p>.<p>“We will allow cultivation when the lands are not submerged,” he said.</p>