Haliyal: Congress leader Prashant Deshpande said BJP leaders are spreading lies over the implementation of the Kali River diversion project.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, he said the project of diverting Kali River water to fill lakes and port area that was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 220 crore, was approved in the budget and work order was issued in the cabinet meeting. A tender has been called and the work has commenced. Yet the BJP is falsely claiming that the project has not been started.

He said Minister R V Deshpande has already implemented the Kali river project and it is expected to be completed within next one year.

He charged that BJP candidate Sunil Hegde is stooping to a low level, for political gains. He also asked the BJP candidate to do research on what all development works R V Deshpande has done for the district and constituency.

He said Sunil is also claiming that it was he who brought the sugarcane factory in Haliyal. However, the truth is that it was Sunil who had staged a protest in Haliyal and burnt the effigy of R V Deshpande against the factory.

It has been in the deeds of BJP to take credit for development works done by others.