PTI, PANJIM: Days after the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal
asked the concerned states to resolve the water dispute amicably, Karnataka
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to his Goa and Maharashtra counterparts
offering to host the first round of discussions.
“…on behalf of the riparian state of Karnataka, it
would be my pleasure to host the first round of talks. I sincerely hope you would, in the true spirit
of co-operation and collaboration, agree
to your state participating in the
talks,” Siddaramaiah said in a letter to Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
“I, therefore, request you to instruct your states chief secretary to interact with my states
chief secretary in finalising the date of meeting in this month of September,
2016,” the letter, released to the media said.
A similar letter was written to Maharashtra Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis inviting him for talks over the issue, the Chief Ministers
Office said.
The Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal had last week asked Chief
Ministers of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra to resolve the water dispute
amicably by holding discussions.
Karnataka government, which has locked horns with the neighbouring
Goa on the larger issue of sharing Mhadei River water between both the states,
had petitioned the tribunal seeking the release of 7.56 tmc ft of water for
the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.
The tribunals July 27 interim order after hearing arguments
from Karnataka and Goa had rejected the states plea citing various grounds,
including ecological damage that the project may cause. Challenging this, the
state government has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court.
Following the interim order, tension had gripped most parts of northern Karnataka as protests
turned violent on July 28 during which
government offices were attacked and public property was damaged.
Also, a state-wide bandh was observed on July 30.
The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will
utilise 7.56 tmc ft of water from the inter-state Mhadei river, is being
undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking
water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of
Belgavi and Gadag.
It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri,
tributaries of Mhadei River, to divert 7.56 tmc to Malaprabha river which
fulfils the drinking water needs of the twin cities.
Karnataka has for long been advocating for out of court
settlement of the issue. Siddaramaiah had led an all party delegation to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention.
Earlier, Goa government had rejected Karnataka’s attempt for
the out of court settlement stating that the people of the state felt it was
more prudent to settle the dispute through the Tribunal.
