We will not allow diversion of Mahadayi water, asserts Goa Cong

The Goa Congress on Tuesday said ity won't allow diversion of Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin as sought by neighbouring Karnataka.

Karnataka and Goa have been at loggerheads over sharing of the river water. Congress spokesman and former Union minister Ramakant Khalap told reporters that there would not be any compromise on the issue even if Karnataka Chief Minister and party leader Siddaramaiah desires so.

"Be it BJP's Yeddyurappa or Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, they have no right to divert the water from the Mahadayi river basin to Malaprabha basin. We will not allow this to happen," Khalap said responding to a query.

He said even at the Congress party level in Goa, there would be no compromise on the issue.

The Congress in poll-bound Karnataka had sought an intervention of party president Rahul Gandhi to convince their Goa counterparts to change their stand and allow the water to be diverted for drinking purpose from the Mahadayi water basin.

"Our stand is very much clear, at no cost will we allow the Mahadayi water to be diverted," Khalap said.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah accused the Goa government of nitpicking on the Mahadayi issue and maintained that Karnataka has not taken up any project illegally.

"Karnataka has not taken up any illegal project. Mahadayi river water disputes tribunal will decide whether there is any violation.

The Goa Speaker cannot decide on this," he told reporters in Bengaluru on seeking his reaction on the charges made by the Goa government that Karnataka has illegally taken up a project at Kanakumbi-Mahadayi watershed areas in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district.

"Goa's job is to nitpick. They (Goa leaders) are making it an issue when we seek our share of water (Mahadayi). About 200 tmcft of water is flowing into the sea. Goa is not utilising it. All that we are asking is 7.5 tmcft for drinking water purpose," he stated.