The Karnataka government has demanded its ‘rightful’ share in the Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery river-linking project and speedy approvals for its long-pending irrigation projects if the state has to sign the draft notification.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar who met the Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil in Delhi on Thursday, said that Karnataka would not sign the draft notification (inter-river linking) unless its demands for rightful share of water are not met.
The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) which has formulated the proposal of the Godavari (Inchampalli Barrage)-Cauvery link project, has allocated 15 tmc to Karnataka of the 147.932 tmc available for diversion towards drinking water and industrial uses, and to Tamil Nadu (40.930 tmcft), Telangana (45.061 tmcft), Andhra Pradesh (43.861 tmcft) and Puducherry (2.189 tmcft).
"Karnataka has been consistently communicating its reservations, as it has not been allocated its rightful share. The actual allocation to Karnataka for drinking and industrial uses will be only 2.19 TMC whereas the other states have been allocated significantly higher amounts for irrigation," stated the memorandum given to the minister. NWDA has not determined the allocations to the States on the principle of equity and equitable apportionment as assured by the ministry in its letter dated 13.10.2015,” said the plea, adding that Karnataka would explore legal remedies under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
The chief minister also urged the ministry to issue directions to the Central Water Commission Authorities to take up immediate appraisal of the DPR and accord necessary clearances to the Mekedatu drinking water project.
“This is an important project and in the interest of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as the excess water flows in a good year can be stored, instead of allowing them to flow into the sea, so that in a lean year, monthly stipulated releases to Tamil Nadu can be maintained. The project will also benefit Bengaluru City in meeting the growing demand for water for the city,” said the CM.
Karnataka also sought the Centre’s cooperation in securing expeditious clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to the Wildlife Proposal of Kalasa Nala diversion scheme and to declare the Upper Krishna Project as a national project and to issue notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II award. The memorandum stated that Karnataka had incurred an expenditure of Rs. 18,730.00 crore on the UKP, which is a lifeline for the northern part of Karnataka.
