Mahadayi river row; CM calls all party meet on Aug 7

Bengaluru, Aug 4: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened an all party meeting here on August 7 to discuss further course of action following the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal's interim order rejecting the state's petition seeking 7.56 tmcft for drinking water projects.

Members of Parliament from all the political parties will also be part of the meeting, the state government in a release said.

It said government has also decided to go before the tribunal once again seeking some clarifications regarding its interim order. The Chief Minister today chaired a "high level" meeting that was attended by Home Minister G Parameshwara, Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and other senior officials.

Karnataka government, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on the larger issue of sharing Mahadayi River water between both the states had petitioned the tribunal seeking the release of 7.56 tmcft for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.

The tribunal, which gave its interim order last week after hearing arguments from both Karnataka and Goa, had rejected state's plea citing various grounds including ecological damage that the project may cause. The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will utilise 7.56 tmcft from the inter-state Mahadayi river, is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.

Following the verdict, tension had gripped most parts of northern Karnataka like Gadag, Hubballi, Dharwad, Haveri, Belagavi, Naragunda, Navalagunda and other places as protests turned violent last week during which government offices had come under attack and damage was caused to public property.

Normal life was affected as a state wide bandh was observed on July 30 in protest against the interim order.

PTI