PANAJI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has lashed out at Goa CM Pramod Sawant over his remarks on the Mahadayi river water project, calling them an “insult to the people of Karnataka.” He accused the BJP-led Centre of colluding with the Goa government to block the implementation of a project crucial for North Karnataka's drinking water needs.
“The Goa CM's remark on the Mahadayi project is an insult to the people of Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah posted on X. “Why hasn't the Union government officially communicated any concerns? Is this how federalism works under the BJP? Backdoor sabotage, silence, and betrayal? What crime have Kannadigas committed? Are we being punished for not surrendering to the BJP?” he added.
The sharp reaction came after CM Sawant told the Goa legislative assembly that Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav had assured him that the Centre would not clear the Mahadayi project, also known as the Kalasa-Banduri diversion, under any circumstances.
Siddaramaiah reiterated that the Mahadayi water was not for luxury but a necessity for the drinking water needs of over 40 lakh people in Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkot, and surrounding regions. “We will fight legally, politically, and morally until Karnataka gets its rightful share,” he declared.
Backing Siddaramaiah’s remarks, Karnataka law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil said the Goa CM’s statement had come as a “shock” and demanded that the Centre immediately approve the project.
“Despite no judicial hindrances, Karnataka faces unnecessary obstacles in implementing legitimate, legal, and constitutionally protected projects, which is unjust in a federal system,” Patil stated.
While Karnataka initially sought to divert 7.6 TMC ft of water from the Kalasa-Banduri project to the Malaprabha basin, the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal in 2018 permitted only 3.9 TMC ft.
The state later submitted a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for clearance, which Goa objected to, pointing out that 10.6 hectares of forest land fall within the Kali and Sahyadri tiger reserve zones. The NTCA, however, recommended the use of this land on January 23, 2024.
