Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister, S M Krishna on June 5,asserted that the state would continue its effort to bring water to millions of water starved people by executing the programmes to recharge ground water level regardless of opposition from neighbouring states.

Referring to Tamil Nadu's opposition to the state's tanks reconstruction and modernisation programme, Krishna said the government was only making effort to raise the ground water table to a 'respectable level' through this initiative.

Krishna was speaking after launching the country's first ever, World Bank (WB) aided community based tank management project at a function here.

Under the Rs 670 crore project, Karnataka would be taking up works in 2,000 tanks located in 34 taluks of nine drought prone districts.

TN had said that the modernisation of tanks by Karnataka would help it to impound more water, thereby denying water flowing into its dams.

Karnataka had rebutted the TN stand and secured the WB assistance for the project.

The tank management programme being implemented in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Kolar, Bagalkot and Koppal do not come under the Cauvery river basin.

Krishna said Karnataka was making a humble beginning. It would train its farmers exposing agriculture to judicious advantages of water utilisation management, he added.

Lead economist of the WB, Stephen Howes, hailed the effort of Karnataka in taking up this project as the top most priority one to reduce poverty.

Howes suggested to the government to do away with subsidies on agriculture and power sector, to ensure that projects being implemented for the benefit of farmers turn viable.

Union Ministry of Water Resources, secretary, B N Navalawala, described the launch of the programme as a progressive step by Karnataka.

Noted social worker, Anna Hazare said if the programme launched by Karnataka turns successful, it would give a new direction to the water management to the nation.

PTI