Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened an all-party meeting on Sunday August 23 at Vidhana Soudha over the long-pending Kalasa-Banduri drinking water dispute, while the delegation has decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday August 24.
The long-pending stand-off between the state and Goa over sharing of Mahadayi River water resulted in the dispute being referred to a Tribunal for adjudication in 2013, following directions from the Apex Court.
Water Resources Minister M B Patil said the failure of monsoon had worsened sourcing of drinking water to meet the demand of the people of the three Northern Karnataka districts, including Dharwad and Gadag.
Maintaining that the matter is being heard by the Justice Panchal Tribunal, involving Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, he said, “Since the issue is sensitive, we have to tread very cautiously, taking lessons from past experiences.”
During the meeting the Chief Minister presented all facts pertaining to the dispute. “Suggestions emerging at the meeting will be presented before the Prime Minister, seeking early solutions to the long-pending dispute.” Advocates, representing the state before the Tribunal, will also take part in the meeting, it is said.
As per the delegation they will seek an intermediary solution to the problem from the PM, by pursuing the riparian states, to allow Karnataka to draw about 7.5 tmc of water, without waiting for the Tribunal’s final verdict would be the main agenda of the meeting with the PM,” Patil said.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, H K Patil, speaking on the issue, said that “Convincing the riparian states to allow Karnataka to draw 7.5 tmc of water should not be a problem, as we are well within our rights to stake claim for over 45 tmc of water from Mahadayi River”.
“Taking note of the severe water crisis being faced by the people of the region, the other riparian states are expected to cooperate on executing the Kalasa-Banduri project,” he said.
The state government had planned to divert the water from Kalasa Nala and Banduri Nala in Mahadayi basin to the Malaprabha River and utilise about 7.5 tmc of water to meet the drinking water need of the people of the three Northern Karnataka districts.
North Karnataka Farmers protest
The issue has left the farmers helpless. Hundreds of farmers whipped themselves and took out a rally in Navalgund town seeking a solution to the Mahadayi river diversion project. On Saturday a day before the All – Party delegation meet some farmers blocked the state highway creating conjunction around the place.
Dharwad calls for Bandh
Dharwad observed a bandh on Saturday as demanding the Mahadayi-Malaprabha River linking and Kalasa-Banduri nala diversion projects evoked good response.
More than 35 different organisations under the umbrella of Mahadayi and Kalasa-Banduri Project Implementation Agitation Committee had called for the bandh.
Shops and commercial establishments had downed their shutters while most of the educational institutions remained closed. The busy market area, Jubilee Circle, Court Circle, Gandhi Chowk wore a deserted look as vehicles including autos and Bendre buses did not venture onto roads. However, government offices and banks functioned as usual.
