The ire of farmers in Hubballi over the Kalsa-Bhandura canal spilled over on Wednesday with disastrous consequences for the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC). A bus was torched and the KTC was forced to withdraw all its buses plying on routes to Karnataka. Goa got its first taste of river water-related violence, hitherto reserved for issues pertaining to the Cauvery and the situation is likely to get worse as water problems in north Karnataka get more acute. The failure of the monsoons will add more misery to an on-the-boil situation. It is obvious that Karnataka farmers blame Goa for the delay, although this is not the case. The dispute pertaining to diversion of Mhadei river water to the Malaprabha basin is being heard by a tribunal and until its final order is pronounced, it makes no sense for farmers to direct their ire at Goa. This dispute has been going on for over a decade and all Goa is trying to do is protect its interests. Burning a bus or two will not change the situation. Instead, it will inconvenience the travelling public and undermine good relations between the two states. Goa is facing a serious threat to its water sources from Karnataka and Maharashtra which need to be resolved by a tribunal as water sharing requires copious technical details and readings. The tribunal cannot be swayed by agitations, no matter how violent. Bengaluru must desist from playing the fire, book the those responsible for torching the KTC bus and bring the situation under control.
