Team Herald
Panjim: Congress’ Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka Rajeev Gowda on Tuesday said the inter-state water dispute issues like that of Mhadei and Cauvrey needs to be settled “amicably”.
Karnataka State is at loggerheads with Goa over the diversion of water from River Mhadei and is battling with Tamil Nadu for water from River Cauvrey.
Addressing media persons in Goa, Gowda said the issues of water diversion should not be politicized but settled amicably.
“I actually, frankly as an individual don’t like to politicize issues like this. Many parties in different states tend to politicize this issue. Last session of parliament, we saw many days were lost because of the Cauvrey water issue,” he stated.
“These are all issues, in my suggestion should be solved amicably,” he said responding to a question on whether Mhadei river water diversion is one of the issue party looking at to incorporate in its Lok Sabha election manifesto, for Goa.
Gowda even responded negatively when asked whether you feel Goa government was or is politicizing the Mhadei water diversion issue.
The MP, who was down in Goa to hold consultative programme with the general public to seek inputs for drafting party LS manifesto, said the Mhadei issue was not raised by any individual during the consultation programme.
Mhadei water dispute tribunal (MWDT), dealing with water-dispute crisis between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, in its order passed last year, has awarded 13.2tmcft of Mhadei river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36tmcft.
Even the Supreme Court has passed verdict in the Cauvrey water sharing matter.
