Water Resources Minister M B Patil, on Friday, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is willing to hold talks with his Goa counterpart Manohar Parrikar to resolve the Mahadayi issue.
"As per protocol, the Goa Chief Minister should have written to his Karnataka counterpart. But he has conveyed his government's willingness to hold talks to state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa," Patil said.
"The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah), however, will not make it a prestige issue. He is ready to meet the Goa Chief Minister if the latter sets a date, time and place to work out an out-of-court solution" Patil stated in a statement released to the media.
Parrikar had, on Thursday, informed Yeddyurappa that his government "in principle" did not oppose parting with 7.56 TMCft of the Mahadayi river water to meet drinking needs of drought-prone north Karnataka.
Besides, Patil said the long-standing issue should be resolved in one meeting and that Goa should immediately release 7.56 TMCft of water to Karnataka for its immediate need. Then the state would take measures to ensure drinking water supply to the drought prone areas by next monsoon.
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