TEAM HERALD
BELGAUM: With the Mhadeyi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) expected to visit Karnataka and Goa this month, there have been growing demands in North Karnataka urging the people of Goa to support the disputed Kalsa-Bhandura water project, amid fears that Karnataka could be ill-prepared with its presentation before the tribunal.
Vijay Kulkarni from Dharwad, who has been spearheading the agitation under the aegis of Kalsa-Bhandura Horata Samiti (Protests Committee) since last two decades, is camping in Belgaum along with protesting farmers opposite the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha since commencement of the winter session on November 25.
“The project is being implemented to quench the drinking water needs of the people of 13 talukas in four districts. Of the 200 TMC of water wasted in the Arabian Sea, only 7.5 TMC is being diverted, hence the people of Goa should not have any problems,” Kulkarni said.
“I urge people of Goa not to object the implementation of the project as people of north Karnataka had to wait for 50 long years since 1964 for the project,” he said.
Another leader, Kalyanrao Muchalambi, has stated that the Goa Government and the people of Goa need to take a sympathetic view of the project.
“Belgaum and Goa have a cordial relationship and hence, Goa must not oppose this project at the cost of its relationship with us. Moreover, since very limited water is being diverted, this should not have any impact on Goa’s flora and fauna,” Muchalambi said.
Leaders of the farming community, who are engaged in the protests for the completion of the project, have expressed fear that Karnataka’s lackadaisical attitude may favour Goa as Karnataka is ill-prepared with its presentation to the tribunal.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar has also blamed the Karnataka government for its handling of the matter and has fear that Karnataka’s case may fail before the tribunal.
However, Karnataka Minister for Water Resources M B Patil told Herald that since the water tribunal has been constituted under the Inter State Water Disputes Act, its final verdict is expected by 2015. “The Karnataka government will abide by the decision,” Patil told Herald.
Karnataka Law Minister T B Jayachandra however is confident. “An appeal will be placed before the tribunal to give the go-ahead for the project as it was for drinking water needs,” he said.
