Dispute over Mahadayi flares up; Will protect interest of state: Cong

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Exactly two months after Congress assumed power in the state, the long pending controversial Mahadayi project flared up.

This time, the CM of Maharashtra extended his support to Goa against the diversion of Mahadayi waters by Karnataka to implement its Kalasa Banduri Nala project. Addressing a meeting in Mumbai recently, Shinde said the two states will fight the issue against Karnataka. Pramod Sawant, the chief minister of Goa was present at the meeting.

The last BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai, in December 2022, got clearance from the central government for the project, to which Goa had opposed. However, it assumes significance with the change in the government. Reacting to the Maharashtra government’s move, the Congress party’s official spokesperson told News Trail that the party is likely to take up the issue and proceed further.

“The matter shall be taken into consideration after analysing the details and observing the move of the Maharashtra government. Congress party is born to protect the interest of Karnataka on any issues. We will react on the issue and proceed further”, Ramesh Babu, Congress spokesperson told News Trail.

The project aims to meet the drinking water needs of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka. It involves the construction of dams and a canal to divert water from the river that is located in Goa. However, with the significant impact on the environment and the displacement of people living in the area, Maharashtra too joined hands with Goa as it concerns the state.

While the beginning of the issue goes back to 1980, the Goa government, recently, filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the allocation of water in 2019, followed by a contempt petition in 2020, accusing Karnataka of illegally diverting the water from the river.