# Shivakumar seeks defence clearances, Mekedatu nod in Delhi meetings

2026-09-29T01:26:24+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar held multiple meetings in New Delhi on Monday, seeking defence and water project clearances. He urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to expedite approvals for Bengaluru infrastructure involving defence land, including a public park on 730 acres at the Iblur firing range and road projects. Shivakumar also requested relaxing height restrictions near HAL airport and Yelahanka Air Force Station, and reducing the licence fee for defence land required for the Bengaluru twin tunnel project from Rs 61 crore to 2% of the land value. On water, the CM met Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil to push clearance for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir, whose cost has jumped 86% to Rs 16,745 crore. The New Indian Express reports Shivakumar invited Tamil Nadu to inspect the site, while Times of India notes Tamil Nadu opposes the project. Shivakumar also sought Central funding for the Upper Bhadra Project and early clearance on the Mahadayi and Upper Krishna issues. He further urged the Centre not to finalise Western Ghats ecologically sensitive area boundaries until Karnataka completes a physical survey.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three sources carry the same core facts from CM Shivakumar's Delhi visit: the Mekedatu cost revision to Rs 16,745 crore, requests to defence and jal shakti ministers, and proposals on slum redevelopment and height restrictions. The New Indian Express alone frames the CM's challenge to Tamil Nadu to inspect the site and his all-party delegation offer as a political move exposing opposition hypocrisy. BusinessLine and Times of India stick to a neutral, policy-list format, omitting the Tamil Nadu invitation and the jab at the BJP. The Express adds political colour, while the others simply record meetings. The balanced take: the CM pushed a broad administrative agenda, but the political framing of inter-state and opposition cooperation is present only in one outlet. The concrete next step is the CWC's appraisal timeline for the revised DPR.

## Coverage

- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/karnataka-cm-seeks-faster-defence-clearances-for-bengaluru-infra-projects/article71520768.ece>
  Straight policy listing, no editorial framing of CM's political statements
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/mekedatu-cost-jumps-86-to-rs-16-7k-cr-as-state-awaits-centres-nod/articleshow/134547077.cms>
  Factual record of meetings, drops CM's Tamil Nadu challenge and opposition jibe
- newindianexpress.com (government critical) <https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2026/Sep/29/cm-shivakumar-wants-centres-intervention-on-mekedatu-tells-tamil-nadu-to-inspect-site>
  Leads with CM's political challenge to Tamil Nadu and Opposition, adds drought attack on BJP

Tags: Bengaluru, Central Water Commission, D K Shivakumar, HAL, Mekedatu, Rajnath Singh
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