Karnataka likely to oppose Goa's plea of Mahadayi Tribunal term extension

Bengaluru: Goa’s has pleaded for a term extension of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that Karnataka will oppose Goa’s plea.

Siddaramaiah held a discussion with BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa – leaders of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, respectively – and JD(S) leader Konareddy and announced the decision.

The final hearing on the dispute was likely to commence on February 6 but Siddaramaiah said that no arrangements for the hearing took place as Goa sought after an extension of the Tribunal’s term.

Speaking to the reporters Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told that the extension in the Tribunal term will only result in delay of the dispute further and our State has serious need for drinking water. Former attorney general of India Ashok Desai and senior advocate Shyam Divan will represent the state in the Tribunal. We will oppose the extension at any cost, he added.

The state government has demanded that it should be allowed to utilise 7.56 TMC of Mahadayi river water to meet the drinking water needs of the North Karnataka province.