BELAGAVI
Karnataka state BJP president Pralhad Joshi said the Congress government in Karnataka is least interested in resolving the Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion issue with Goa. He has also levelled allegations against the Congress party in Karnataka and Goa stating that the party is using the issue as a conspiracy to blame the BJP governments in Karnataka and at the Center. Joshi was addressing a news conference in Belagavi on Sunday. Raising the issue of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah s lavish wristwatch allegedly costing ` 70 lakh, he said the BJP leaders have decided to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha during the forthcoming budget session. “The Congress party has been using the Kalsa Bhandura issue only to malign the image of the BJP, however, we are all set to expose the Congress for its tricky moves in handling the issue,” stated BJP president Joshi. Meanwhile, raising the issue of Karnataka CM Siddramiah s watch, he said Siddaramaiah failed to disclose who gifted it to him and what was its actual price, which according to sources is ` 70 lakh, Joshi ascertained. Speaking further, Joshi also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Belagavi on February 27, to launch the smart city and other Central schemes for the benefit of the people of north Karnataka. “The Prime Minister will address a rally at the CPEd College ground here on February 27, at 3 pm,” he informed. When asked whether the Prime Minister would take up the Kalsa-Bhandura issue during his visit to Belagavi, Joshi informed that the Prime Minister has already cleared his stand by stating that the Center would facilitate any discussion between both the chief ministers in resolving the issue amicably. He also defended Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar stating that he is only voicing the opinion of the people of Goa. The Kalsa-Bhandura project has been a bone of contention between the states of Karnataka and Goa for a few years now. The farmers of north Karnataka swear that the water diversion is vital for their consumption need and also for irrigation as their crops are suffering due to drought and have sought the diversion of water at the earliest. On the other hand the state of Goa has taken the issue to the Mhadei Water Distribution Tribunal saying that the diversion of water will affect the very existence of River Mhadei which is the very lifeline of Goa and that it would destroy fragile bio-diversity as well as the environment of the State. Efforts by Karnataka to reach an out of court settlement with Goa on the water sharing dispute has found no favour with Goa State.
