Bengaluru: Following pressure from farmers across the state, the state government has decided to file an interim application within eight days before the Mayadayi Water Disputes Tribunal seeking release of 7 tmcft of water for drinking to the parched north Karnataka districts.
Minister for Water Resources M.B. Patil on Thursday announced in the council that the state government would also hold talks with neighbouring states, Goa and Maharashtra to solve the long-pending Kalasa-Banduri water issue with an out of tribunal settlement.
Minister during zero hour said, “Chief Minister has agreed to take a delegation comprising pontiffs and opposition leaders of both Houses of the state legislature. The government has decided to file an Interlocutory Application (IA) in the tribunal seeking permission to take up the works.”
Patil requested the opposition BJP to talk to the Goa and Maharashtra Chief Ministers (both of BJP) and convince them to agree to talks. Opposition leader K.S.Eshwarappa welcome the move of the state government and assured that BJP will convince the two Chief Ministers to agree to talks.
Meanwhile on Thursday hundreds of farmers from north Karnataka districts, who have been agitating over the issue for over four months now, came to Bengaluru to press for their demands.
