Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is back at work two days after the funeral of his elder son Rakesh.
Siddaramaiah, who looked calm and composed, held back-to-back meetings with ministers and officials on Wednesday morning. He reviewed relief works of flood-hit areas in the city and discussed the future course of action on the Mahadayai issue.
The meetings started at 11.30 am and went till 2pm. Later, he briefed the media for more than 40 minutes. Sources in the CM’s office said Siddaramiah was badly shaken by his son’s death. “On the insistence of his colleagues, back-to-back meetings were conducted so that it will divert his mind. He will leave for Mysuru on Friday,” sources said.
On Bengaluru floods
During the meeting with BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, Mayor Manjunath Reddy, city MLAs, ministers and senior officials from BBMP, BDA and BESCOM, the CM directed them not to spare encroachers of storm water drains and lakes as such encroachments were the main reason for the recent floods.
He even asked Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) to check illegal constructions that have come up in and around Kodichikkahalli lake and other areas. Action will be taken against officials who have permitted construction of these buildings, he said.
Mahadayi river issue
The CM discussed the Mahadayi issue with Water Resources Minister M B Patil and Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav. He said some of them will meet senior advocate Fali Sam Nariman on Friday to discuss the state government’s next step.
“They will discuss whether to file a Special Leave Petition or appear before the Mahadayi Water Tribunal,” he said. The CM has called an all-party meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue.
Mahadayi protest assault
The CM also took stock of the protests and violence in North Karnataka after the Mahadayi tribunal interim verdict was announced. He said two senior IPS officers have been appointed — Kamal Pant to look into police officers who lathicharged the public — and Raghavendra Auradkar to look into people who were arrested. He said so far, 187 people were arrested in 24 cases. In this case, an SI, inspector and eight constables were suspended and one DySP transferred. He also regretted the lathicharge on the public.