of Bangalore. Yediyurappa also led a delegation from Karnataka in the hope of attracting more investors to set up shop or expand their facilities in the state. The Chief Minister said that the state had received positive response from corporations such as French 3D design company Dassault Systems, aircraft maker Lockheed Martin, steelmaker ArcelorMittal, LuLu Group International and pharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk among others. In December 2020, the Government of Karnataka, under his leadership passed the Anti Cow-Slaughter bill 2020, in aim to protect and nurture the cattle in the state, that were alleged being slaughtered illegally. The legislation empowered the police to inspect and seize vehicles that transport cattle and the premises where they are slaughtered. The new law brought stern punishment of imprisonment of up to 3 years and a penalty of 50,000 rupees. Amid opposition from the Congress members who staged a walk-out protest, the bill was passed unanimously in the floor of the house, and the law further came into effect in the state. During the covid pandemic Karnataka became the first state to open a 10,000 bed Covid hospital and care centre in Bangalore. Yediyurappa after a cabinet meet concerning the COVID-19 pandemic announced that the Karnataka government would be providing 1 Lakh aid to BPL families who lost a working person in the first or second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, Yediyurappa assured the start of the Mekedatu project across river Kaveri, after the clearance of the obligations in the judicial courts. Even though he wrote a letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin mentioning the project and to further cooperate in its smooth movement, Stalin opposed the start of the project stating concerned issues of his state. Later Yediyurappa still reassured that no odds can put a halt to the project, stating "Got Every Right To Start Dam Project Across River Cauvery". This led to further disputes between the two neighbouring states based on this issue, and also led to mutual protests against each other. The chief minister primarily met the Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and also flew to New Delhi to meet Narendra Modi and clarify the process of the Mekedatu dam programme. Under his tenure, Karnataka became the first state in India to provide reservations for transgender communities in all government services. In the final notification issued on 6 July, the government decided to