Presenting the 2023-24 Budget in the legislative assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday reportedly said that his government will make all efforts to commence the Kalasa and Bhandura Nala drinking water project works on River Mhadei after obtaining the necessary forest clearance. The project is being undertaken by the Karnataka government in order to divert the river water to the Malaprabha river basin in the state through the Kalasa and Bhandura canals. Goa has been opposing the project as it will lead to diversion of the River Mhadei which is the lifeline of the state.With a change in the government in the neighbouring state with the Congress scoring a landslide victory, there was hope that the dispute would be resolved keeping the interest of Goa in mind. Be that as it may, it remains to be seen how the Congress party in Goa will respond to the latest development. It would be prudent for the Congress MP from South Goa and Congress party leaders in the state to take up the matter with party leader Rahul Gandhi.
