The Karnataka government's long-pending ambitious Kalasa-Banduri Nala project received a blow on Wednesday, July 27, after the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal passed an order in favour of Goa. The Karnataka's plea to divert 7.56 TMC water from Mahadayi basin to Malaprabha river was rejected by the tribunal, triggering widespread protests in the North Karnataka region and other parts of the state, including Bengaluru.
The Mahadayi river, which originates in the Western Ghats in the Belagavi district of Karnataka, traverses 29 km in the state and 52 km in Goa, before finally flowing into the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
The Karnataka government planned the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project decades ago to construct seven dams upstream on the Mahadayi river to divert water towards the Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka. The project aimed at solving the water problems of Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi and neighbouring regions spread across four districts in the state.
The Goa government had raised objections over the diversion, citing that the river was the lifeline of the state and also the project would adversely affect the ecology.
The latest verdict has been criticised by several organisations in Karnataka. Kannada Okkoota, a forum of pro-Kannada organisations, has slammed the members of Parliament representing Karnataka for failing to take up the issue with fervour in parliament and protect the interest of people of North Karnataka.
The Kannada organisations have also called for a bandh in North Karnataka on Thursday, July 28 and a state-wide bandh on Saturday, July 30.
People have also expressed their displeasure on Twitter, and held the central leaders of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responsible for failing to find a solution for the issue.
Here are a few comments made by them on the social networking site.
Sandeepkambi: And when did Cong genuinely stand by KA's side? No national party works for our interests. #Mahadayi
KA Chandrakanth: #Mahadayi Verdict of Water Tribunal goes against Karnataka. Another feather in the cap of Congress government's failure.
Parmesh: @divyaspandana pls stop worrying bout rss n Gandhi & support #implementkalasabanduri #Mahadayi not even a single tweet??!
Vinay BS: People of #Karnataka expect same frm Mr.@narendramodi for #Mahadayi .I dont think it's too herculean fr his calibre.
Mudukana Gouda: Verdict always goes against Karnataka when it comes to #Mahadayi and #Cauvery. Shame on these political parties.
AKSHAYBIRADAR5: Don't blame politicians ,blame ourselves because we are only elected the worst politicians #Mahadayi #kalasabanduri
Sanjay Sharma: Karnataka neither gets its share from #Mahadayi nor from #Cauvery Is this the price we pay for being humble and peace loving?
Vijaysubbu: What has Modi got to do with tribunal's verdict of #Mahadayi? It's a failure of Karnataka Govt's legal team! Why blame Modi for that?
Arun Mysore: Tomorrow is Karnataka Bandh Protest against Anti Farmer Modi Govt #Mahadayi decision against Karnataka Farmers.
BSN: #Mahadayi @bjpkarnataka BJP will have a lot to answer for. N Ktaka is lost for you next election.
