From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 8: Tourism and environment minister CP Yogeshwar attacked former chief minister and JD(S) state president, H D Kumaraswamy and chief minister, BS Yediyurappa’s trusted lieutenant as well as political advisor MP Renukacharya on Thursday.

Addressing a news conference at Bidadi, Yogeshwar lambasted Kumaraswamy and contended that the JD(S) leader has lost his political base in the State except in Ramanagara and Mandya districts and dared him to build his party in North Karnataka.

Taking strong exception to the abusive remarks against Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, who was challenged by Kumaraswamy to sleep on the Krishna Raja Sagara dam to prevent the seepage and cracks, Yogeshwar said the JD(S) leader’s remarks against Sumalatha were totally condemnable and in bad taste.

He said it is common knowledge that granite quarrying around 30 km of KRS dam since the last several decades and use of explosives was the cause of the cracks in the dam and even seepage, which has also been reported in the media.

"As Mandya MP, Sumalatha has voiced her concern and brought the matter to the notice of the chief minister. Kumaraswamy should have revealed whatever information he had instead of abusing the MP. This is lowered his dignity and not befitting his stature,’’ the minister said.

Yogeshwar, who is also a Vokkaliga, contended that the very next day of his voicing the problems of Ramanagara district, it is used against me and Kumaraswamy rushes to meet the chief minister and keeps meeting him repeatedly. "But for Yediyurappa’s cooperation and support, JD(S) MLAs would not remain in the party. He has no political base anywhere except in Ramanagara and Mandya districts. Let him prove his mettle by building his party in North Karnataka," he challenged.

Attacking the chief minister’s political advisor and Honnali BJP MLA Renukacharya, the minister said he has consistently expressed his problems and the shortcomings in BJP from time to time. "He should remember that I was responsible to get him official accommodation in the Seven Minister’s Quarters on Palace Road and also for the sanction of Rs 1,000 crore grants to his Honnali constituency. Let him not forget my contribution," he said.

Taunting Renukacharya for his remarks on resigning the seat and get elected to the state assembly, Yogeshwar reminded the former that he had resigned as a minister and faced elections besides getting elected five times under different party symbols.

"I have a lot of regard and respect for Renukacharya. I don’t have any information on 40 legislators submitting a complaint to the party high command. I cannot speak on everything before the media. I have disclosed whatever I had to say within the four walls of the party and the result is expected any time now,’’ he said.

Reacting to cooperation minister S T Somashekar’s statements, Yogeshwar said he is aware of Yediyurappa’s style of functioning and also his problems. "I have never gone to meet Kumaraswamy during the day to meet and prevail upon the chief minister or meet KPCC chief, DK Shivakumar at night,’’ he said and made it clear that he has never spoken about a change of leadership in the state.

The Prime Minister has just revamped and reshuffled his cabinet, which is very good. "Don’t project me as an anti-chief minister," he said.

Will contest from Channapatna in next polls

"I was born in Channapatna and will contest from BJP in Channapatna in the 2023 assembly polls,’’ Yogeshwar declared.

Yogeshwar said the people of Channapatna have blessed me and elected me five times. "I will contest from my own constituency as a BJP candidate,’’ he said making it clear that there was no need for any doubts. "I want to continue to serve my people,’’ he declared.

The minister said he was working as a disciplined and loyal soldier of the party and was keen to strengthen the party in the Old Mysuru region.

Answering questions, the minister made it clear that his party has not extended an invitation to anybody to join. "KPCC president, D K Shivakumar may have said anybody can join his party. But our party will not invite him to join our party,’’ he said.

Rs 1,500 cr plan for Vrishabhavathi Valley

The minister, who visited the Vrishabhavati valley from Byaramangala at Bidadi to inspect the pollution of the waters, said a plan for filling up the valley with treated water at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore over the next five years is being implemented.

The wastewater and effluents from Bengaluru city are entering the lake at Byaramangala through Bidadi, which is being presently treated in two-stage processing. This water is not usable for anything including agriculture, he said pointing that scientific treatment of the effluent in three stages is part of the plan. After the three-stage treatment, the 1,500 million litres of effluent into the valley could be used for any purpose, except drinking.

He said there were 3,304 industries in the Vrishabhavathi Valley area of which 1,396 industries were found to disposing of the wastewater without any treatment. Action has been taken against 1,476 factories and criminal cases have been lodged against 77 companies. As many as 275 companies have been ordered to be closed, he said making it clear that action will be taken against all violators including officials.

Tenders have been invited for implementing a Rs 250 crore lift irrigation project at Byramangala lake and also for treating the effluents discharged into the lake, he said.