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Karnataka
By Our Staff Correspondent
The apex court, which heard a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by the Bheema Nadi Neeru Rakshana Raithavarga Samiti (BNNRRS), ordered on April 1 that Maharashtra release water from the Ujani Dam. Maharashtra was directed to release at least 200 cusecs of water for the next three months. After receiving the court order officially in the second week, the Minister for Water Resources, H.K. Patil, wrote to his Maharashtra counterpart, Ajit Pawar, seeking release of water as agreed at the Hyderabad meeting on March 28. The Irrigation Secretary, Channabasappa, also wrote to his Maharashtra counterpart. But Maharashtra refused to release water saying it had not agreed to it at the Hyderabad meeting. Mr. Patil, who came to Bijapur on April 16, announced that the State would seek the Centre's intervention on the issue. He ruled out water release into the Bheema from the reservoirs across the Krishna (Alamatti and Narayanapur) through the Indi Branch Canal (IBC) as was done earlier. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, who was in Bijapur on April 17, told presspersons that Karnataka and Maharashtra had come to an understanding. The Chief Secretary, B.S. Patil, had spoken to his Maharashtra counterpart and that State had agreed to begin release of water from the Ujani Dam, and the water would reach Karnataka by April 20. Water would also be released into the Bheema through the IBC, Mr. Krishna said. But till today the water promised to be released by Maharashtra has not reached the State. Moreover, Maharashtra declared that the water release, which began on Saturday, was only for meeting the needs of people of Solapur city. On April 21, Mr. Patil submitted a memorandum to Union Minister for Water Resources, Arjun Charan Sethi, explaining the State's stand on the issue. He said the State was not in a position to release Krishna waters into the Bheema through the IBC, which was contrary to Mr. Krishna's statement. At the time when Mr. Patil was urging Mr. Sethi to prevail upon Maharashtra to release water in compliance with the Supreme Court order, the Chief Secretary, B.S. Patil, told presspersons that the upper riparian State had "released" 1.5 tmcft. of water, and it would be releasing another 1.5 tmcft. water in the coming weeks. This gave rise to an impression that an important issue was being handled casually. It also sent a wrong message on the coordination among the top persons in the Government in general, and Mr. Krishna and Mr. Patil in particular. People have voiced apprehensions that the gesture by Mr. Krishna on releasing water into the Bheema may be taken advantage of by Maharashtra. Firstly, it is against the State's stand in the court and before the Union Government, and secondly, the court has directed release of water from the Ujani Dam. According to Panchappa Kalburgi, who filed the PIL in the Supreme Court, Maharashtra is known to "misuse" such gestures. In January last, the State Government provided drinking water to Solapur through the IBC. At the meeting in Hyderabad, Maharashtra referred to this (water supply to Solapur), and argued that Karnataka could overcome the water shortage on its own. Mr. Kalburgi said the apex court on Friday would hear the interim application moved by him on the non-implementation of its order by Maharashtra. The chances of Maharashtra trying to project its water "scarcity" by referring to the offer of water release into the Bheema through the IBC, could not be ruled out, he said.
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