Special Cabinet meeting on September 16 to discuss UKP-III

In a bid to give a push to the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP-III), which is currently mired in controversy and in limbo due to the land acquisition issue, the State government has scheduled a special Cabinet meeting for September 16 to arrive at a decision on the land acquisition issue.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been holding consultations with the leaders and farmers’ representatives from the region. To complete the project, we need to take the farmers into confidence since over 75,000 acres that would be submerged have to be acquired,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil told presspersons in his post-Cabinet briefing.

Stating that the government intends to provide justice to the farmers, he said that technical and legal issues are to be sorted out, after which a decision could be taken. Though land acquisition rates were informally discussed, no decision was arrived at, he said.

Meanwhile, government sources stated that farmers could be offered solatium for relinquishing their lands to help irrigate others’ lands, and that the huge compensation could be met through bonds, as the government does not have the necessary funds.

Protocol changed

Changing the protocol procedures in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), the State government also decided to restrict the number of persons to be invited and seated on the dais in public functions to a maximum of nine in ordinary circumstances.

“We have brought changes to the protocol to bring discipline. Earlier, there was no limit. Only in unavoidable circumstances, the maximum number of persons to be invited and seated on the dais will be 13. Respective district in-charge Ministers and Cabinet Ministers will decide on the people whose names are to be included in the invitation and those to be seated on the dais,” Mr. Patil said.

On fears that the Opposition party members could be ignored in the new protocols, he said that no one would be ignored. Asked what would happen if the protocols are violated, he said that it would be construed as ‘indiscipline’.

Important decisions

Among other decisions, the Cabinet approved a ₹160 crore package for 11 tribal communities, including Soliga, Hasalaru, Gowdalu, Siddi, Kudiya, Malekudiya, Kadukuruba, Iruliga, Betta Kuruba, Yarava, Paniyan and others, for a housing scheme to 6,856 households under the Chief Minister’s Adivasi Gruha Bhagya scheme and ₹150 crore for Karnataka -Global Information System.

The Cabinet also approved Karnataka Minor Minerals Concessions (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which seeks to simplify permit fees and bring convenience to farmers and the public.