Water disputes tribunal team to tour State

A 13-member team of Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, headed by Chairperson Justice J M Panchal, will tour the State between December 18 and 23 to inspect among others the controversial Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project, Water Resources Minister M B Patil said on Monday.

Briefing reporters, he said of the total yield of 45 tmc ft water, the State has submitted a plan for utilising 24 tmc ft. This includes 11.65 tmc ft water for Kalasa-Banduri project and 1.5 tmc ft for a drinking water project to Khanpur town, he added.

The State has not violated any of the provisions of Forest Act for the construction of a canal at Kalasa. The work has been taken up on non-forest land. The government will show the project site to the tribunal during its visit, he said. The team is scheduled to hold a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his Cabinet colleagues and top officials of the government on December 23 on the issue.

Floor leaders’ meeting

The government will convene a meeting of leaders of all political parties in both the Houses of Legislature on Krishna river disputes issue after holding consultation with Fali S Nariman, head of State's legal team on the issue. Nariman has given an appointment on December 24. The government first wants to consult him on the stand to be taken on the recent clarificatory  order given the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, Patil said.