PANAJI: The Chief Minister's office sought to shut down news reports floating around that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was pressured by party's national president Amit Shah to concede ground on the Mhadei issue in a bid to improve the party's prospects at the upcoming Karnataka polls.
A source in the Chief Minister's office informed that there was indeed a meeting chaired by BJP party president Amit Shah in which Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, former BJP Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar were present.
The nature of the meeting, its timing and the seniority of the members present has fuelled, not unfounded, speculation that the BJP is eager to ensure that Goa does indeed share its water with its neighbour in Karnataka, which is an upper riparian state and that the BJP top brass has pressured and convinced Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to compromise on the stand taken by the state government that no water will be transferred outside the Mhadei basin.
"Karnataka BJP leaders requested Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to share water for drinking purpose. The Chief Minister listened to their demand, but no assurance has been given," a source in the Chief Minister's office has said.
However, the former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa has given a contrary statement to the Karnataka media which indicated that the Mhadei issue has been "resolved" and that a formal announcement will be made on Thursday.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was specifically summoned to Delhi by the party chief solely to meet with BJP Karnataka leaders in a bid to strike a compromise, and pressurise him to change his government's stand.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government, which also has a stake in the Mhadei dispute had sought a meeting over the issue in a bid to pressure the Goa that water needs to be shared.
The involvement of BJP president Amit Shah, in the matter, has raised eyebrows over the fate of Goa's stance given that the issue is a politically charged on on both sides of the divide.
Successive Goa governments have maintained that they would do everything it takes to stop Karnataka from diverting water, which they say would sound the death knell for Goa's lifeline the Mhadei river which joins the Arabian Sea at Panjim known as the Mandovi.
"The Goa government will fight the Mhadei case firmly and we will with the case in the Tribunal too. The Goa government is committed to protecting the Mhadei river and Goem Goenkar and Goenkarponn. I would be personally attending the next hearing of the Mhadei tribunal in September," Paliencar said.
Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma's letter to his counterpart in Karnataka ruling out talks on the Mhadei water dispute till by-polls are conducted in Goa have rekindled hopes in Karnataka for an out-of-court settlement on the dispute.
Earlier State Water Resources Minister Vinoda Paliencar initially said that he was open to an out of court settlement, before swiftly retracting his statements.
"It is my personal view that the state's money is being colossally spent (on hearings) this should not be. If there can be an out of court settlement it will be good. The state's interests have to be protected. Each state tries to protect its interests," Paliencar told journalists on the sidelines of a press conference.
However, later that same evening in July Paliencar denied that he said such things.
"There will be no compromise or out of court settlement in the Mhadei case with Karnataka. This is the official stand of my department and of the Government of Goa," Paliencar said.
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Listened, but I
have not given
assurance: CM
PANAJI: Speaking to The Goan, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stated he has listened to Karnataka, but has not given any assurance.
"Karnataka BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa put forth his demands and statements in writing and I will also send my detailed reply to him," he added.
"Other leaders were also present in the meeting. Karnataka has demanded Mhadei's water for drinking purpose, but I have not given them any assurances. A meeting will be convened again on this issue. After this meeting, I will send our written reply to Yeddyurappa," informed Parrikar.
