PANAJI/HUBBALLI: The BJP has decided to woo North
Karnataka with an announcement about "resolving" the
Mhadei issue.
Karnataka state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa met the party national president Amit
Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday along with others. Goa chief minister Manohar
Parrikar was also present.
Sources said BJP functionaries from Karnataka leaders pressured Shah to help them send positive feelers to the people as Yeddyurappa had promised to find a solution to the Mhadei
water row with Goa within a month. Recently, Yeddyurappa was put in a spot when questioned about missing the deadline.
At the time, the former Karnataka chief minister attributed the delay to the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls.
A massive meeting is planned on Thursday in Hubballi and Yeddyurappa is expected to make an important statement on out of court settlement of the Mhadei imbroglio.
The rally will cover eight constituencies, including Navalgund and Nargund, which were the hubs of protests, a source said.
On Wednesday, Karnataka leaders requested Parrikar to help resolve the issue through out of court settlement and allow release of water from the Mhadei basin only for drinking purpose. MPs Anant Kumar and Pralhad Joshi, Union minister of ministry of human resource development (MHR) Prakash Javadekar also attended the meeting.
Parrikar told TOI on Wednesday that there is no need for any speculation at this stage. "I have listened to them and there is no assurance given to Karnataka," Parrikar said.
After the meeting, Karnataka BJP leaders expressed satisfaction over the talks with Parrikar on sharing of Mhadei waters.
Emerging from the meeting, Yeddyurappa said the detailed discussions with Parrikar on the Mhadei and Kalasa-Banduri issues took place in a "good environment".
"He has heard our suggestions positively. In Hubballi there is a big convention on Thursday where over a lakh of people are gathering. By then they (Goa) are expected to come out with their clear stand on the 7.56 tmcft water that we are seeking for drinking purpose and how it can be done," he said.
Yeddyurappa added that they would announce at the Hubballi public meeting whatever information the Goa government shared with them. "We are satisfied with the discussion," he added.
The row over proposed diversion of some tributaries of Mhadei river, including Kalsa and Bandura, has been dangling for over two decades. Karnataka Neeravari Nigam (KNN) had started the work of excavation and construction to divert the Kalasa nullah in October 2, 2006.
Goa had demanded the setting up of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT). Goa has put up a strong case against diversion of Mhadei water before the tribunal.
Twice earlier, Karnataka had attempted for out of court settlement, the last being a year ago when then CM Laxmikant Parsekar, despite pressure from the BJP central leadership, refused to entertain the request.
Despite assurances, Karnataka has recently resumed the work of completing the Kalasa canal to divert the water to the Malaprabha water basin. Construction of a dam to store the water from the Kalasa tributary comprises the second phase of the project.
BJP President Amit Shah (file photo)
