Kalasa-Banduri water project: All-party meeting convened on August 23

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said his government was committed to implementing the Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with the representatives of farmers staging protests in Belgavi and Dharwad districts, he said the government would not change its stand on the project. Whether it is Mahadayi, Cauvery or Krishna river disputes, the government has taken them all seriously, he said.

The government has decided to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and find an out-of-court settlement for the inter-state water-sharing dispute involving Mahadayi river. An all-party meeting of the State leaders has been convened on August 23 in Bengaluru on the issue. An all-party delegation is scheduled to meet the prime minister in Delhi on August 24, he said.

The river water issue is currently before the Mahadayi River Water Disputes Tribunal. The BJP is in power in both Goa and Maharashtra states. So the prime minister can intervene and find an out-of-the-court settlement. Efforts will be made to convince Modi in this regard, he said and urged the agitating farmers to give up their protest.