Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has once again urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the three riparian States to resolve the Mahadayi water dispute.
In a letter to Mr. Modi, second in less than four months, Mr. Siddaramaiah demanded that the Prime Minister convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka for an amicable resolution of the Mahadayi water dispute. The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal recently rejected Karnataka’s application seeking 7 tmcft of water for the Kalasa–Banduri Nala drinking water project.
Owing to below normal rainfall in Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag, and Bagalkot districts this year, the Chief Minister said, “Diversion of water from the Mahadayi river basin to the Malaprabha dam has become imperative and looks to be the only solution in the circumstances.”
Reminding Mr. Modi that the Goa Chief Minister had not favourably reacted to his (Mr. Siddaramaiah’s) suggestion to resolve the Mahadayi water dispute through negotiations, the Chief Minister said, “I believe a mediated solution is possible under your leadership.”
The State has called an all-party meeting on Sunday to decide the next course of action to seek justice for Karnataka.
