The Legislative Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in resolving the inter-State row over sharing of the Mahadayi waters, amid objection by the Opposition BJP. Such a resolution was taken up to clear the hurdles for implementing of the Kalasa–Banduri Nala project for providing drinking water to the parched northern districts of the State.
Minster for Water Resources M.B. Patil moved the motion seeking the intervention of Mr. Modi in resolving the row by convening a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the riparian States of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
However, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar objected to this on legal grounds. Seeking to allay fears of the BJP members, Ministers, including T.B. Jayachandra, H.K. Patil and Mr. M.B. Patil, said that similar resolutions had been adopted with respect to the Krishna and Cauvery water disputes earlier, and maintained that such a resolution would not harm the interests of Karnataka.
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Later, overruling Mr. Shettar’s objection, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa announced that the House had adopted the resolution.