BENGALURU: The Karnataka government will decide its next course of action to get 7.56tmcft of water from Mahadayi river on August 16 based on the advice of its legal team headed by F S Nariman.
The state’s legal team is fighting the Mahadayi case before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal(MWDT).
The decision was taken at an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Sunday. “We will take the final decision on future course of action for getting 7.56tmcft of water from Mahadayi river for Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project on August 16 after consulting our legal experts,” Siddaramaiah said after the all party meeting.
Water Resources minister MB Patil, along with a team of officials held preliminary discussions with Nariman in this regard. Nariman, has offered two options for Karnataka — seeking clarification on MWDT’s recent interim order under Section 5 (3) of Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 or filing Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court.
The MWDT recently rejected Karnataka’s plea for an interim order to draw 7.56tmcft of water from Mahadayi river to Kalasa and Banduri canals into the Malaprabha river to meet drinking water needs of Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and other towns in North Karnataka.
Leaders of opposition BJP and JD(S) expressed support for any decision to be taken by the Chief Minister to protect the interests of Karnataka.
“We will support any decision that the government will take after consulting Nariman on August 16. Siddarmaiah has taken all of us into confidence in resolving the issue and we are confident of Karnataka getting justice in the inter state water dispute,” said BJP State president SB Yeddyurappa and JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy.