Bengaluru/Maharashtra: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday called off the meeting of chief ministers of three states – Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, scheduled on October 21, to find a solution to the Mahadayi water sharing issue.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday which went on till late evening. He had taken suggestions on the stand Karnataka should take. Just after the conclusion of the meeting, he received a fax message from his Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, saying the meeting on October 21 was put off.
The Karnataka government had petitioned the tribunal seeking the release of 7.56tmcft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project and 25tmcft water for irrigation and livestock. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of the Mahadayi, to divert 7.56tmcft to the Malaprabha River. The meeting was planned after the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on September 1 had asked the states concerned to resolve the water dispute amicably through discussions.
According to sources, the Maharashtra CM must have backtracked from the meeting as it was seen to embarrass his counterpart in Goa, which is also a BJP-ruled state.