State to press for Kalasa-Banduri

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday held a meeting with floor leaders of both the Houses on this issue.

Speaking to press persons after the meeting, the chief minister said the Centre had granted in-principle clearance for the project on April 30, 2002. Following opposition to the project by the Goa government, the Centre withdrew its clearance on September 19, 2002. The Goa government also moved the Supreme Court in this connection.

The project intends to provide drinking water supply to Hubli-Dharwad. The project requires only 7.56 tmc of the total State’s share of 45 tmc of water from Mahadayi river.

Yeddyurappa said as there was no stay on the project from the court, the Centre should allow the State to take up the project. The delegation would appeal to the Prime Minister to give up the proposal to set up a tribunal to settle the dispute over sharing the river water.
The meeting began with a heated exchange of words between the chief minister and the leaders of the Opposition. JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah criticised Yeddyurappa for arriving late for the meeting. Congress leaders Ugrappa and Siddaramaiah took serious objection to the absence of officers and advocates representing the  government in the Supreme Court over the Mahadayi river dispute in the meeting.

Nanaiah, Siddaramaiah and Ugrappa said there was no point in holding the meeting when neither the Advocate General of the government nor Fali S Nariman who represents the State in the court was present. They also wanted to know why the Chief Secretary and officers of law department did not turn up for the meeting.