Shivakumar asks Kumaraswamy to identify the land for the ARAI center in Mandya

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was speaking after launching various development works in Mandya on Saturday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday called on Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and Mandya MP HD Kumaraswamy to identify the land required for setting up the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) center in Mandya, assuring that the state government would acquire and hand over the land for the project.

“Let him (Mr Kumaraswamy) select the land for the project. The government will acquire the identified land and hand it over to him,” he told reporters in Mandya.

Mr Shivakumar, who was in Mandya to lay the foundation stone of the Congress Bhavan and inaugurate various development works, rejected Mr Kumaraswamy’s claim that the Congress government was not cooperating with him in securing land for the proposed centre.

“We are ready to support and cooperate. First, he should come forward and implement the project. For the last two-and-a-half years, he has been making statements (about developing Manda and bringing projects). The necessary land will be allocated,” he said.

Responding to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s claim that the disputed land had been earmarked for the project, the Chief Minister said the Union Minister can identify an alternative site. “Let him identify the land. We are ready to get that particular land,” he said.

Mr. Shivakumar said around 100 acres have already been identified for the project and Mandy’s elected representatives, including Minister for Water Resources and District In-Charge N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Mandya MLA Ravi, have extended their cooperation to bring the project to the district.

On the Mekedat project

The Chief Minister said the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project would benefit Mandya and other areas, especially during rainfall deficit periods like the current year.

He said the proposed storage capacity of 66 tmcft could help meet the demands of farmers in Cauvery, Hemavathi, Kabini and Harangi command areas during years of distress.

Mr. Shivakumar said he had met the Union Environment and Forests Minister in connection with the project and that a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Mandya had been constituted to oversee the land acquisition. “Only 500 acres of farmers’ land will be required for the project, while the remaining land will be forest land. Alternative land will be provided instead of forest land,” he said.

He added that he has asked BJP MPs to accompany him in meetings with central leaders to take the project forward.

Published – 31 Oct 2026 18:55 IST