Bengaluru: The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to solve the interstate Mahadayi water dispute, the issue on which state has locked horns with neighboring Goa, by calling a meeting of Chief Minister’s of the riparian states.
The resolution moved by Water Resources Minister M B Patil requests the Prime Minister to intervene keeping in mind continues protests, agitations that is on in Karnataka, and for the sake of healthy relationship between the neighboring states. It said “Prime Minister should intervene and invite Chief Ministers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to find a solution to the dispute that will facilitate Karnataka to divert water from Mahadayi basin to Malaprabha, as planned.”
Patil said he is moving this resolution following the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal’s suggestion made on September 1 asking the concerned states to resolve the water dispute amicably by holding discussions with or without third party mediation.
Karnataka government, which has locked horns with the neighboring Goa on the larger issue of sharing Mahadayi River water between both the states, had earlier petitioned the tribunal seeking the release of 7.56 tmcft of water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, but it was rejected in an interim order on July 27. The Kalasa-Banduri project is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
Karnataka has for long been advocating an out of court settlement of the issue. Siddaramaiah had even led an all party delegation to Prime Minister seeking his intervention.
A meeting called by Maharashtra Chief Minister with his Goa and Karnataka counterparts on October 21 following Tribunal’s suggestion could not take place as Goa Chief Minister had expressed his inability to participate in the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Assembly witnessed chaos, war of words and dharna, as all the political stuck to their stand on the issue. While Congress government demanded for Prime Minister’s intervention to solve the issue, BJP argued that Congress to convince their party men who is the opposition in Goa.
JD(S) staged dharna by entering the well of the House, asking both the national parties find solution for the issue, instead of indulging in politics.
As over 11 hours long discussion did not come to any unanimity on finding a solution to the issue JD(S) members under the leadership of Kona Reddy enter the well of the house. They demanded that the House give a solution to protesting farmers and people of the region who are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the discussion.
Intervening, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded for Prime Minister’s intervention for out of court settlement of the issue and also promised to continue the legal battle.
He said “Mahadayi tribunal has asked the states to resolve the issue out of court through negotiations, with or without third party intervention; the tribunal had never given such option in the past.”
“If we honestly want to find a solution to the issue, Prime Minister who often speaks about cooperative federalism should show his sincerity in resolving the issue by calling the meeting of Chief Ministers of three riparian states. If this happens the dispute can be settled 100 per cent,” he added.
Siddaramaiah also said that he is ready to write to Prime Minister once again and seek his time, while complaining that his letters in the past did not get any response.
