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Gadkari offers mediation to end Mahadayi row

Last Updated 19 February 2018, 19:42 IST

Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he was "100% ready" to mediate in the ongoing Mahadayi river water dispute if chief ministers of Karnataka and Goa approach him.  

"I will take the initiative (to find a solution) if both chief ministers want to unofficially sit and discuss," Gadkari said during an interaction with DH.

Gadkari's offer comes just ahead of the Assembly polls with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP trading barbs over the Mahadayi dispute.

The minister said neither Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor Goa's Manohar Parrikar had sought his mediation so far. "What can I do if no one comes to me? The matter is already sub-judice as it is before a tribunal," he added.

Gadkari said he was able to resolve similar water disputes between states. "I was able to solve the dispute between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and Gujarat. I have always encouraged out-of-tribunal settlements. In the case of Mahadayi, if Karnataka and Goa want it, we will find a solution and withdraw the case before the tribunal," he said.

Karnataka has claimed as its share about 45 tmc ft from the Mahadayi river and has demanded that it be allowed to utilise 7.56 tmc ft to meet drinking water needs of the North Karnataka region.

Godavari-Cauvery link

Detailed project reports on linking Godavari and Cauvery rivers will be ready in about a month's time, Gadkari said.

Work on linking the two rivers has been planned in two phases. "In the first phase, 250 tmc ft of water will be lifted from Godavari river at Akinipalli and could be released in the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam across River Krishna. Then, water will be taken upto Somasila reservoir across River Pennar and then to Grand Anicut across Cauvery. In the second phase, it is proposed to lift 450 tmc ft from Polavaram across Godavari, take it to Bolapalli reservoir, then to Somasila and to Grand Anicut across Cauvery, " Gadkari said.

He added that the project will help irrigate 20 lakh hectares in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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(Published 19 February 2018, 15:28 IST)

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