Karnataka CM Baswaraj Bommai asserted State’s rights to share of Cauvery, Krishna, Pennar river water and its position on river linking projects in the Godavari, Cauvery, and other rivers basins.
Karnataka’s chief minister asserted the state’s rights to its share of river water and inter-linking projects on Sunday at the 29th Southern Zonal Council meeting, presided over by union home minister Amit Shah in Tirupati.
Karnataka has already informed the union government of its position on river linking projects in the Godavari, Cauvery, and other river basins. ‘Karnataka state should get its rightful share of surplus water from the Krishna, Cauvery, and Pennar river basins,’ said CM.
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Karnataka’s claim
The meeting was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy, Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Sounderajan, and Puducherry Chief Minister Nadesan Krishnasamy Rangasamy.
The claims come as Karnataka CM continues to press the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government for approvals for the contentious Mekedatu project, which is opposed by neighboring Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, two of India’s most productive states, have been in conflict for decades over the Cauvery River, which is a deeply emotional and sensitive issue for people on both sides.
Karnataka Demand
Bommai urged the union government not to approve the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link works started by the Tamil Nadu government, claiming that this project is being undertaken before the share of surplus waters for other states with a stake in the basin has been allocated.
‘He reinforced Karnataka’s demand to the Centre not to grant legal clearance for major permanent irrigation projects undertaken by neighboring states in contravention of Water Disputes Tribunals’, said a statement issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO) on Sunday.
CM, Bommai also asserted that Telangana State had no right to pursue the Palamaru Ranga Reddy and Nakkalagandi lift irrigation projects from the Krishna basin’s Srisailam reservoir in order to draw huge amounts of surplus water.
The CM further objected to Telangana’s construction of the Rajiv Gandhi Sangam Banda barrage, which he claimed would prevent Karnataka of its legitimate share of water.
Survey for Clarity
‘A combined survey should be conducted on the anticipated flooding of villages in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as a result of Andhra Pradesh’s construction of the Gundrevula reservoir across the Tungabhadra river.’ According to the CMO’s statement, Andhra should share the details it submitted to the Tribunal as well as the clearances it has got from the central govt for this project.
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He also stated that, in terms of Krishna water sharing, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had no approval for any projects other than those approved for utilizing the already assessed quantum of waters.
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