CM urges Centre to clear Mekedatu project, withdraw Kasturirangan report; seeks CSR support to upgrade 1,000 government schools

Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday urged the Union Government to expedite statutory clearances for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, withdraw the Kasturirangan report recommendations on the Western Ghats and align corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with the State’s guidelines to upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools.

Addressing the inauguration of CoSMOS – Centre of Space and Modern Optical Sciences in Mysuru in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister placed three key demands before the Centre, emphasising the need for cooperation between the Union and State governments to address critical developmental challenges.

Referring to the Mekedatu project, Shivakumar said the Supreme Court had already delivered its verdict on the balancing reservoir project and that the legal position was settled. He urged the Centre to grant the final statutory clearances to enable the drinking water project to move forward without further delay.

On the Western Ghats issue, he said the Karnataka Legislature had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report following extensive public consultations and meetings across the affected regions. He urged the Union Government to respect the sentiments of people in the region and withdraw the report recommendations to protect local livelihoods.

Raising concerns over primary education and migration to urban centres, the Chief Minister said economic migration for education and employment was leading to a significant shift in population patterns. Citing statistics, he said migration for education and work had increased from 31 per cent in 2002 to 47 per cent in 2026 and could touch 70 per cent over the next two decades if the trend continued.

To address this challenge, he requested the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to issue advisories aligning corporate CSR initiatives with Karnataka’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) Guidelines. This, he said, would help upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools and strengthen the public education system.

Earlier, highlighting the significance of CoSMOS, Shivakumar said the facility would add a new scientific landmark to Mysuru, a city renowned for its heritage, knowledge and culture.

He thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman for bringing the project to Mysore.

“ If Bharat Van nurtures the future of our planet, CoSMOS will nurture the future of our young minds,” he said, drawing a parallel between the Miyawaki-based Bharat Van initiative and the new science facility.

He said a developed India needed both a greener planet and a generation of scientific thinkers. The inauguration of CoSMOS was not merely about opening a planetarium but about giving wings to curiosity and providing a new direction to young minds.

Underscoring Karnataka’s contribution to India’s space programme, the Chief Minister said the country’s space journey was incomplete without the State’s contributions, from Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, to Chandrayaan, Aditya-L1 and the ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

“India’s rockets may rise from launch pads, but the ideas, engineering and scientific talent behind many of these missions have deep roots in Karnataka,” he said.

He pointed out that academic institutions in Karnataka had encouraged students to participate in satellite development and space research, demonstrating how young talent could contribute to national missions.

Describing CoSMOS as an advanced facility offering an immersive experience of the universe, he said making science experiential would transform curiosity into excitement and eventually lead to innovation.

Emphasising the need to decentralise access to scientific infrastructure, Shivakumar said world-class science facilities should reach every region of Karnataka and not remain confined to major cities.

“A student’s opportunity to touch the sky should never depend on whether the child is born in Bengaluru or in a remote village,” he said.

He asked the Department of Science and Technology to explore establishing a CoSMOS-like facility in North Karnataka to provide students in the region with similar opportunities.

Highlighting the State’s outreach initiatives, he said the Mobile Digital Planetarium Project had enabled more than 19.21 lakh students and teachers to experience the wonders of the universe in their own schools.

Quoting former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s words, “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action,” the Chief Minister stressed the need to support young researchers through fellowships, training and greater opportunities.

He said the Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-30 was aimed at supporting startups, strengthening research, developing skilled talent and fostering collaboration between industry and academic institutions.

Space technology, he noted, had applications beyond rockets and satellites and could transform agriculture, weather forecasting, disaster management, communication and public services.

Shivakumar congratulated the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the University of Mysuru and all those associated with establishing the facility. He dedicated CoSMOS to the students, researchers and people of Karnataka.

Referring to the broader relationship between the Centre and the State, he invoked Swami Vivekananda, saying, “Be bold when you are defeated and be large-hearted when you are victorious.”

He said the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect should guide efforts to address developmental priorities.

“The sky is the limit, but for our young minds, even the sky is only the beginning,” he said.

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Bharath Anjanappa

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Bharath Anjanappa is an experienced journalist specializing in Politics and Civic issues. With over a decade (2012 till date) of writing expertise, he handles or contributes towards Bengaluru sector/area. Bharath Anjanappa has completed his graduation/post-graduation from Bangalore University (with a specialization in Finance, Marketing and HR). When not immersed in writing, he can be found spending time farming. Bharath Anjanappa is an accomplished writer with a passion for writing on current political situation and Civic issues. With 12 years of experience, he has honed his craft in various genres, including entertainment, crime, education and Politics. Bharath's diverse family history and embracing cultures have enriched his writing with unique perspectives.

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