PM neglected Mahadayi issue, says Gowda

 JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have easily resolved the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute, but had chosen to “neglect” it.

Addressing the media here, Gowda said the BJP was ruling at the Centre and in the states of Maharashtra and Goa. “Resolving this issue would not have been such a big task for the prime minister. He, however, asked the Karnataka government to convince the Opposition parties in the other two states,” he said.

He said he had met Modi thrice. “I had told him that if he intervenes, Karnataka will at least get 5 tmcft of water for drinking purposes as a temporary measure. Karnataka has set an example by agreeing to release 9 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu during my tenure,” he said.