'Convince PM on project'

 Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has asked the State government to take an all-party delegation to Delhi just not for the sake of it, but do it in earnest by collecting all legal and technical details to convince the prime minister about the need for urgent implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project to supply water to four districts in the region.

“Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra governments should file a petition before the Mahadayi Tribunal seeking interim relief so that Karnataka gets 7.56 tmc feet of water through the Kalasa-Banduri project and the Union government should give forest clearance to complete the project,” he said.

He told media persons here on Wednesday that the BJP leaders should help in the filing of an interim relief petition as the party was in power in Goa, Maharashtra and at the
Centre.

The Mahadayi Tribunal is expected to give its judgement on water-sharing in 2016. Before that, the Kalasa-Banduri project should be implemented. There is an example of the Cauvery dispute getting interim relief, Kumaraswamy noted.

If the State government fails to take suitable steps before August 31, the JD(S) will organise a ‘Delhi Chalo’ of farmers.