Karnataka Government has decided to file an interlocutory application (IA) before the Justice JM Panchal Tribunal seeking an interim award in the inter-State river water dispute with Goa and Maharashtra.
Karnataka wants to utilise 7.56 TMC of water from Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of Mahadayi to meet the scarcity of drinking water to Belagavi, Gadag, Hubballi and Dharwad. Karnataka proposes to divert 7.56 TMC to the Malaprabha river basin by implementing the Kalasa Banduri Naala project.
Siddaramaiah, who led an all-party delegation to Delhi, told the media on Tuesday after a detailed discussion with the State’s legal team headed by Fali S Nariman that the State has decided to file an interim petition before the tribunal considering the urgency and emergency situation in the State. A severe drought has gripped 136 of the 176 taluks in Karnataka.
He said, “We have decided to file an interim petition as there is an emergency situation. The farmers have intensified their agitation for water. We need an interim award from the Tribunal.”
The delegation led by Opposition leader of the BJP Jagadish Shettar, senior BJP leader and former Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai, senior JD(S) legislator Kona Reddy, Water Resources Minister MB Patil, law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra and others.
According to Chief Minister the delegation discussed legal, technical and all other aspects of the dispute before deciding on filing the interim petition. He said “the legal team will draft the petition, which will then be approved by Nariman before filing it before the Tribunal”.
A source in the State Water Resource Ministry confirmed that the State would seek permission to get 2 TMC ft of water from Kalasa-Banduri to Malaprabha reservoir through a canal to supply drinking water for areas of North Karnataka, But in the long term the State seek the nod for utilising 7.56 TMCft of water by constructing reservoir at Kalasa. Mahadayi (Mandovi) river originates and flows for 28 km in Karnataka and meanders through Maharashtra and Goa before reaching the Arabian Sea.