Govt to sign MoU with Maharashtra for exchanging waters

Bengaluru: The state government has agreed in principle to the demand of Maharashtra for exchanging water and soon a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard will be signed by both the states.

Addressing presspersons after concluding the meeting of elected representatives and officials from Belagavi, Vijajapur and Bagalkot districts regarding the MoU proposal given by Maharashtra Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said that the elected representatives from the three districts irrespective of their political affiliations have given constructive suggestions regarding exchanging water with Maharashtra and meet the drinking water needs of parched regions along the course of river Krishna during summer. We want a permanent solution for annual drinking water crisis and in-principle have agreed to the MoU proposal given by Maharashtra.

He further added that the pros and cons regarding the MoU have been discussed at the meeting and soon the technical committee will submit its report as waters from our state have been allocated to different schemes. Needs of farmers too have to be considered.

Chief secretary will write to a letter to Maharashtra today itself and MoU could be signed after the code of conduct was relaxed, he said.

Shivakumar himself had held talks on water sharing with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the sidelines of a summit at Aurangabad in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Recently delegation led by Rajya Sabha Member Dr Prabhakar Kore met Fadnavis and Shivakumar too held talks over the phone. Maharashtra wants 2 TMC feet water during Kharip and 2 TMC feet water during Rabbi season.