Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met with legal and technical experts on Thursday August 26 to devise strategies for resolving water-sharing disputes with neighbouring states. The meeting took place at the Karnataka Bhavan in Bengaluru.
Speaking to the media persons Bommai said, “A long conversation with the legal team about Supreme Court cases involving interstate river water disputes was done. Several issues were discussed.”
Following the meeting, the CM stated that he met with senior advocates Mohan Khatri on Wednesday and Shyam Divan to discuss how to proceed in light of the ongoing water disputes.
In the case of the Mekedatu project, CM stated that the State Administration has decided to present its case when the case is scheduled for hearing the next time.
The government has proposed a balancing reservoir in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka, but the Tamil Nadu government has strongly opposed it.
The dispute over the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project on the Mahadayi river, according to Bommai, was also discussed. The date for the case’s hearing has been set on September 2.
The key concerns in the special leave petition were also discussed during the meeting. Bommai, who believes that water projects in Tamil Nadu are illegal, said that a new petition will be filed in the Supreme Court against the neighbouring state, and that the subject will also be taken up with the Centre.
The key concerns in the special leave petition were discussed, he added. Bommai, who believes that water projects in Tamil Nadu are illegal, said that a new petition will be filed in the Supreme Court against the neighbouring state, and that the subject will also be taken up with the Centre.
“The meeting addressed a wide range of topics. They will let us know how things are going in a week or so. Our government is constantly working to resolve various problems,” he added.
The meeting included Karnataka Water Resources Minister Govind Karajola, Health Minister K Sudhakar, MP Shivakumar Udasi, Water Resources Department Deputy Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, chief minister’s general secretary Manjunath Prasad, and Advocate General Prabhu Linga Navadagi.
The CM plans to meet with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the second day of his visit.
