The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has assured farmers of holding talks with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and BJP national president Amit Shah to resolve the Mahadayi water sharing dispute before December 15.
Mr. Yeddyurappa met farmers, who were on a protest in front of Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar’s residence here, and gave this assurance. The farmers withdrew the agitation following this assurance.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said that he would convince Mr. Parrikar to agree to the resolving the issue outside the tribunal and also seek Mr. Shah’s help in the matter. He said that he would not bother whether the Congress cooperates or not.
“So far, I have spoken to Goa Chief Minister twice on the issue, and within a month, I shall come to you with an order copy regarding Goa releasing 7.56 tmcft of water to Karnataka,” he said and added that it would be his responsibility to resolve the issue now, as it was he who started the project by releasing ₹ 100 crore for constructing a canal for the Kalasa-Banduri rivers.
Raitha Sena president Veeresh Sobaradmath and general secretary Shankarappa Ambali welcomed this move by Mr. Yeddyurappa and said that they are ready to give a last chance to Mr. Yeddyurappa, expecting him not to break their trust or they will be forced to stage a similar protest in front of his Shikaripur house and also the BJP’s Bengaluru office.
Mr. Shettar could not meet the farmers as he was in Belagavi to attend the Assembly session. BJP leaders Ravi Kumar, Pradeep Shettar, Mahesh Tenginakai, Nagesh Kalaburagi, Mallikarjun Sahukar, Shankarappa Bijawad and others were present.
