Council has decided to send a report in this regard to the State government. The meet held to make final decision on Bethri or Kundamestri project was presided over by CMC President P D Ponnappa. Within half an hour of the meet, Rs 30 crore Kundamestri project was approved without much discussion.
Congress, JD(S) and independent members T M Ayyappa, Abdul Razak, Chummi Devaiah, Sunil Nanjappa, Muneer Ahmed, K T Baby Mathew and Dhanalakshmi opposed the project and supported implementation of a Rs 7 crore project approved earlier.
However, MLA M P Appachu Ranjan not only supported the Kundamestri project but also expressed contempt against the opposition members for their baseless arguement.
“The Centre has denied funds for this project but State is ready to provide monetary aid for the same. Let the project be approved as soon as possible. If Bethri project is undertaken, then there will be drought during summer. Kundamestri lake has adequate quantity of water all round the year. Hence, the whole discussion in this regard is irrelevant because the option is obvious,” said Ranjan hinting at the immediate need for providing adequate drinking water to Madikeri city.
Ranjan who was raged by the attitude of the opposition members said that the opposition members are opposing the project for the sake of opposition and hence the project should be approved without any further discussion. Opposition members said that they are against the Rs 30 crore project hence adequate time for discussion must be provided.
Opposition Leader T M Ayyappa said that the Rs 30 crore project will be a burden on the people hence implementation of Rs 7 crore project will be advisable.
Independent member Muneer Ahmed said that Kundamestri does not have adequate water to pump to the city hence looking at Bethri would be better. Contradicting this, ruling party member K S Ramesh said that water in Bethri dries up during summer and further maintenance cost will run higher for Bethri.
BJP Member Sathish Pai supporting the Kundamestri project said that Kundamestri lake gets filled during rainy season and there is always enough water in the lake. Hence, kundamestri is a better option.
However, going by what Ranjan had to say, P D Ponnappa without giving any space for discussion straight away asked the members to lift their hands in negation to the project. Seven members raised their hand to oppose the project.
Since majority members were for the project, the House decided to send a report to the Government.
Ponnappa said that there are all possibilities of implementation of Bethri project getting delayed due to technical hitches. “The cost of Bethri project can also run very high. Since the cost of Kundamestri project works out comparatively lesser, it is feasible to have this project implemented in the region at the earliest to solve the water woes of the people,” he said.
Vice-President Latha Bangera and Commissioner K Srikanth Rao were present.