CM writes to Parrikar, asks him to fix meet on Mahadayi dispute

Siddaramaiah bats for out-of-court sttelement

 A day after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he is not opposed to parting with the Mahadayi river water for drinking need of parached north Karnataka districts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday urged him to immediately fix the date and venue for holding talks in this regard.

In a letter to his Goa counterpart, Siddaramaiah said he will also request Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to come for talks to find an out-of-court settlement to the contentious river water sharing issue. Maharastra is one of the three riparian states. "The matter is urgent, because the Tribunal (Mahadayi River Water Dispute Tribunal) has fixed the final hearing from February 2, 2018," he stated.

Besides, Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka has been claiming 14.98 tmc. ft of Mahadayi water for drinking needs – 7.56 tmcft for Hubballi-Dharwad (as cleared by the Centre in 2002) and 7 tmcft out of surplus for drought-prone area in the Malaprabha basin. Karnataka has claimed 14.98 tmcft out of the dependable flow of 199 tmcft at 75% dependability as estimated by the Central Water Commission in 2003, he added.

Siddaramaiah also took exception to Parrikar writing to BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, conveying his willingness for holding talks. "I only wish you (Parrikar) had replied to my letter, since I took the initiative for the negotiated settlement; not only on my own but also on the suggestion made by the Tribunal," he said. Siddaramaiah had written to Parrikar in May this year, seeking his consent for holding talks on the issue.

Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil said the long-standing issue should be resolved in one sitting and that Goa should not prolong finding a solution by holding series of meetings as Assembly elections are fast nearing in Karnataka.

"The Centre had in 2002 given in-principle approval for utilising 7.56 tmcft of water for drinking water purpose. We want Goa to release the water immediately so that measures can be taken to ensure supply of drinking water to the drought-prone areas by next monsoon season," Patil added.