Mahadayi order: Tight security in 4 districts of Mumbai-Karnataka region

Hubballi: With the interim order of the Mahadayi tribunal expected on Wednesday, security has been tightened in all taluks in the Malaprabha river basin to prevent any outbreak of violence should it go against the farmers here.

More police have been deployed in Nargund town, where farmers have been agitating for the last year against the failure of the political leadership to find an amicable solution to the water dispute outside the purview of the tribunal.

Farmers of four districts of Mumbai-Karnataka region could get temporary relief if the tribunal allows Karnataka’s plea to divert 7.56 tmcft of water from the river to meet the drinking water requirements of nine taluks.

The tribunal headed by J N Panchal reserved the order for Wednesday after concluding the hearing of the cases put forward by both Karnataka and Goa.

While Goa has opposed the Kalasa Banduri project to divert the Mahadayi river water to Karnataka saying it could harm the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, the state has argued it needs the Mahadayi water to meet the drinking water needs of its people.

“The Supreme Court refused to stay the Kalasa Banduri project in 2008 after Goa opposed it. But the setting up of the tribunal has delayed the project by several years. We are hoping the tribunal will allow us to use at least 4 tmcft of water in its interim order," said Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti president, Vijay Kulkarni .

The farmers plan to file a review petition in the Supreme Court if the tribunal does not allow the state to use the Mahadayi water for the drinking water needs of its people.