Belagavi/Gokak: A day after BJP national president Amit Shah called a meeting in Delhi to discuss the Mahadayi water sharing row with state BJP leaders, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, who attended Wednesday's meeting has written to BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa stating that “the Government of Goa is willing to consider the request from Karnataka to work out an amicable settlement on the Mahadayi issue and share water which would be strictly restricted to the drinking water needs of drought-prone areas of Karnataka.”
The move, if it fructifies, is expected to help meet the requirements of parched districts in north Karnataka. It may prove to be a trump card for the BJP in its attempts to win the hearts and minds of voters in north Karnataka and provide it a weapon to attack the Congress govt for its failure to resolve the row.
In his letter to Yeddyurappa, the Goa CM has almost agreed to the request of the Karnataka government to release 7.56 tmc ft water from Goa's Mandovi river under Kalsa-Banduri project to overcome the drinking water crisis in north Karnataka. The letter further said, “You are well aware of the matter pending before Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal. Goa will not oppose the release of a reasonable and justified quantum of water meant to be utilised for drinking. However, the same needs to be discussed bilaterally as suggested by the tribunal.”
Taken aback by Parikkar's move of writing to Yeddyurappa and not him-the state's administrative head-Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned the locus standi of Mr Yeddyurappa and Amit Shah in resolving the row. He said in Gokak that if the CM of BJP ruled Goa had really agreed to release 7.56 tmc feet water, he had to first write to the Karnataka government expressing his willingness and would also have to inform the Mahadayi water dispute tribunal by submitting a proper affidavit.
CM questions locus standi
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned the locus standi of Mr Yeddyurappa and Amit Shah in resolving the row. He said in Gokak that if the CM of BJP ruled Goa had really agreed to release 7.56 tmc feet water, he had to first write a letter to the Karnataka government expressing his willingness and would also have to inform the Mahadayi water dispute tribunal by submitting a proper affidavit.
