CM DK Shivakumar Presents Bengaluru Infrastructure and Water Wish List to Centre

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has presented his first official wish list to the central government, prioritizing a major infrastructure boost for Bengaluru and securing the state's share of river waters. During meetings last week with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union ministers in New Delhi, the newly appointed Chief Minister emphasized the need to strengthen Bengaluru's infrastructure to help the IT hub maintain its global competitiveness.

Shivakumar, who previously served as the Bengaluru Development minister before succeeding Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, highlighted the city's significant contribution to the national economy to justify the need for central support.

Aside from urban infrastructure, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to expedite pending approvals for several hydel projects in Karnataka. This includes the Mekedatu project, which is actively opposed by Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, CJ Vijay, who has written to the Prime Minister seeking to stop the project.

Shivakumar met with Water Resources minister C R Patil to request intervention on the issue. He pointed out that the Supreme Court dismissed Tamil Nadu's review petition on April 15, 2026, meaning the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) can now appraise and clear the project.

Additionally, Shivakumar raised the decade-long delay by the Centre in notifying the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal II. He noted that Karnataka has invested heavily in the Upper Krishna Project Stage III, but the award remains stalled due to objections from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The tribunal's term was previously extended on August 1, 2025.

The Chief Minister also requested the immediate release of Rs 5,300 crore in central assistance for the Upper Bhadra project. The funds, which were originally announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget, have not yet been released, impacting lakhs of farmers in central Karnataka.