PANJIM: With elections in Karnataka slated in 2018, the Mhadei River water diversion has turned into a major issue in northern Karnataka with BJP and Congress trying to score over each other.
Both, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa are trying to gain the upper hand on the issue of Mhadei water diversion.
After Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s letter to Yeddyurappa on water sharing, the Karnataka chief minister requested his Goa counterpart, to fix a convenient date, time and place to begin negotiations for drinking water from the Mhadei. Siddaramaiah also sought to end the deliberations before the final hearing that is scheduled to commence in February.
“My Chief Secretary, K Ratna Prabha, will get in touch with your Chief Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to work out the agenda and details of the meet,” Siddaramaiah said in his letter.
Sources in the Secretariat confirmed that the Goa CS is aware of another letter despatched to him by the Karnataka Chief Secretary. This letter is likely to be a request to facilitate both, an officers’ level meeting as well as work out the nodalities of a tripartite CM level meeting.
Referring to his previous letter dated May 24, 2017 to Parrikar, the Karnataka chief minister said that he had mentioned that Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa should meet at Bangalore on any convenient date in June 2017. “A similar letter was also sent to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Letters were followed up by my Chief Secretary. However, unfortunately, there was no response from your side,” he added.
“I once again request that we the chief ministers of three states of Mhadei basin meet on any convenient date and time at the earliest and at a venue of your choice as to try and arrive at a negotiated settlement. I am also sending this proposal to Maharashtra CM (Devendra) Fadnavis for his concurrence,” Siddaramaiah stated.
With news being spread of an impending meeting, the State Chief Minister’s Office refuted reports of a January 5 meeting between Goa and Karnataka leaders as “false and baseless”.
“News about meeting of Goa and Karnataka BJP leaders on Mhadei on January 5 is false and baseless,” said a statement from CMO adding, “the news is being spread to create confusion”. The CMO further added that Karnataka news channels are spreading news to create confusion.
