Bommai refuses to share Mahadayi water with Goa

Bangalore, Aug 25: Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday, Aug 25 said that an all party delegation will be taken to the Centre next month to oppose setting up of a Tribunal for sharing of Mahadayi water with Goa. Speaking to reporters he said Union Water Resources Minister Shaifuddin Soz had written a letter to the state government seeking its opinion on the demand by Goa government for setting up of the Tribunal for solving the inter-state water dispute.

"We are not for the setting up of the Tribunal as it would further delay the implementation of Kalasa Banduri drinking water project for Hubli-Dharwad city," he said.

The Central Water Commission had fixed 45 tmc of water allocation already for the state from the Mahadayi river, he said.

Stating that it was unnecessary to set such a tribunal, he said the state would be utilising 7.5 tmc of water for the drinking purpose only.

He said that the Centre should permit the state to carry on the project on the lines of the projects it has cleared for drinking purpose in other parts of the country.

The minister said that the delegation will also demand the Centre to stop Tamil Nadu from continuing with the Hogenakal drinking water project till a joint survey of the borders is completed.

UNI