Venkaiah blames Cong. for Mahadayi issue

Congress president Sonia Gandhi made water dispute a major poll issue in 2007 and declared that the Mahadayi water cannot be shared with Karnataka.

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu. File

Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Congress was responsible for present hurdles in resolving >Mahadayi river water dispute>. Taking a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Naidu said: “I am doubtful whether he [Chief Minister] is suffering from memory loss or the peoples’ memory is short.”

Stating that there was nothing wrong in Chief Minister seeking the Prime Minister’s help, but “blaming the Prime Minister for the present crisis in the region by forgetting the Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s stand is totally unfair and is nothing but playing politics.” “Selective memory loss is too very dangerous,” he said.

Karnataka wanted to share Mahadayi waters by executing Kalasa Banduri Nala Project to ensure water supply to north Karnataka towns.

In 2002,

>NDA government agreed in principle to resolve the dispute amicably but it had been kept in abeyance because the Congress in Goa opposed it, Mr. Naidu said.

Addressing reporters here, Mr. Naidu said that in 2002, the Goa government accepted in principle to share the river water but then the Opposition Congress has made a hue and cry and protested it. “Then Goa BJP government had gone back on its decision owing to the Opposition from the Congress. Subsequently, Congress Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has taken the matter to the court.”

He said in 2007 Goa Assembly elections, Congress president Sonia Gandhi made water dispute a major poll issue and declared that the Mahadayi water cannot be shared with Karnataka.