BELAGAVI
Karnataka Minister for Water Resources Ramesh Jarkiholi has challenged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to visit the Mhadei project site to see how Karnataka has still maintained the retainer wall to block the diversion of Kalsa rivulet to River Malaprabha.
Strongly reacting to allegations made by Sawant that Karnataka has illegally diverted Mhadei project, Jarkiholi offered to resign from the cabinet if any illegal activity was found at the Kalsa water diversion site.
“I offer to resign if claims made by Goa stating that Karnataka has illegally diverted Mhadei water to Malaprabha, due to which Mhadei water has depleted,” Jarkiohli said.
He was speaking to media persons after chairing a high level meeting of officials in Belagavi on Monday to discuss the implementation of various water diversion and irrigation projects in Belagavi district.
“I extend an open and cordial invitation to the Goa chief minister to visit the Mhadei project site to see how Karnataka has built a retainer wall to prevent the diversion of water from Kalsa rivulet.”
“Perhaps, he has made a statement out of political compulsion and political pressure. Goa is unnecessarily engaged in politicising the issue,” Jarkiholi said.
When asked about completion of the water diversion project, the minister said the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) has already given its nod to this project but its implementation is getting delayed due to the prevailing Covid situation.
Expressing confidence that Karnataka will successfully implement the Mhadei water diversion project despite petitions filed against it by the stake-holding states of Goa and Maharashtra, Jarkiholi said Karnataka will surely get wildlife and environmental clearances.
“As the election code of conduct has come into force from today due to the panchayat elections in Karnataka, I would not like to elaborate more on the topic.”
“But I am confident that the government will get all the needed permissions and there is no need for CMs of both states to sit across to find a solution to the dispute,” Jarkiholi said.
Jarkiholi also defended Karnataka’s actions initiated towards the implementation of the Mhadei water diversion.
“We are following all rules and guidelines and will be implementing the project adhering to legal framework,” he added.
A few days back, Kannada associations and activists had termed Goa’s claims of Mhadei water diversion as false and misleading. The associations also decried statement by Sawant stating that his government is against the out-of-court settlement regarding the Mhadei dispute.
