AAP blames 'apathy' of state government for Mahadayi setback

'Farmers caught in political fight between Congress, BJP'

Aam Aadmi Party Mysuru has said that the state suffered a setback in Mahadayi river water sharing issue due to the insipid presentation by the state government before the tribunal. The AAP functionaries have urged the government to file an appeal before Supreme Court challenging the tribunal’s order to reject Karnataka’s interim plea for 7 tmcft.

Addressing reporters here on Friday AAP Mysuru unit media coordinator G R Vidyaranya said, “The state should have made effective presentation before the tribunal to neutralise the plans of Goa government. The tribunal should be made aware of the availability of water and other ground realities of the area, where canals are proposed, through an expert committee report,” he said.

The AAP leader demanded the government to form a high-powered committee consisting of experts in fields like geology, weather, environment, technical, engineering, irrigation, agriculture, and farmer leaders to prepare a detailed report and submit it before the court.

He said, an AAP delegation had given suggestions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah but he failed to understand the seriousness of the matter. “In September 2015, an AAP delegation visited Malaprabha and Mahadayi river belts to study ground realities. The delegation met farmer leaders, experts and gathered necessary information. The AAP delegation did so to pass on the information, views and feedback of the people to chief minister, the AAP leader added. 

The people of North Karnataka have been waging a relentless struggle for water since 2002, but the CM has not understood their problem,” he said.

Blaming national parties for the ongoing agrarian crisis, he said that 17 BJP MPs have failed to convince Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the dispute while 11 Congress MPs have failed to initiate any discussion on this issue in the Parliament. “The interim order of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal rejecting Karnataka’s plea is a massive fraud perpetrated collectively by the politicians at the state and the Centre. The desperate voice of people has not reached 28 MPs and 224 MLAs of Karnataka,” he said.

AAP district unit secretary G V Malavika and treasurer Nandaram Negi were present.