Tipu Sultan had built a barrage for irrigation before Nalwadi built KRS: KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshmana

Standing by Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa’s recent statement that the erstwhile ruler of Mysuru Tipu Sultan had laid the foundation stone for the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshmana onWednesday claimed that Tipu Sultan had built a barrage to irrigate the agricultural fields of K.R. Nagar and Srirangapatna before Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar constructed the KRS reservoir.

Making it clear that he was speaking as the Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Engineers, Karnataka State Centre, and as a person who had studied the KRS reservoir, Mr. Lakshmana said that Mr. Mahadevappa was referring to the stone inscription of Tipu Sultan at the site of KRS about the construction of the “Mohyi” barrage by him in 1794.

“About 6.5 tmc feet of water could be stored in the barrage constructed by Tipu Sultan and the water was used to irrigate the agricultural fields of K.R. Nagar and Srirangapatna. Later, the same site was found to be ideal for the purpose of construction of a larger reservoir by Nalwadi,” said Mr. Lakshmana.

Reiterating that Mr. Mahadevappa never claimed that Tipu Sultan had constructed the KRS reservoir, Mr. Lakshmana said it was Nalwadi himself, who had decided to keep the stone inscription of Tipu Sultan at the entrance of KRS reservoir.

Criticising MP for Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar for accusing Congress of “twisting” history, Mr. Lakshmana said that the Congress had never twisted history and blamed the BJP for spreading “lies”.

He said that the present Mysuru MP, who was after power, cannot be compared to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. “The present MP did not come to serve the people,” he said.

Mr. Lakshmana trained his guns at former MP Pratap Simha for his utterances against the Congress on the issue. He sought to make it clear that the “Congress never said that KRS was built by Tipu as the former MP went around claiming that he built the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway”.