The Hindu : Front Page : Kalasa-Banduri: All-party team to meet Manmohan Singh

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Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

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Kalasa-Banduri: All-party team to meet Manmohan Singh

Special Correspondent

Delegation will appeal to Goa Government to drop its objections against the project

BANGALORE: The Government on Tuesday decided to take an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Goa Chief Minister Pratap Sinh Rane in a month to resolve the dispute over the execution of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The project is envisaged to meet the drinking water needs of Belgaum, Dharwad and Gadag districts.

The Government has proposed the Kalasa-Banduri Nala (tributaries of the Mahadayi) project to divert 7.5 tmcft. of water from the Mahadayi to the Malaprabha.

Mr. Dharam Singh, who addressed presspersons after an hour-long meeting, said the all-party delegation will first meet Mr. Rane and explain to him the drinking water problem faced by the people of Hubli-Dharwad. The delegation will appeal to the Goa Government to drop its objections to the project. Later, the delegation will meet Dr. Manmohan Singh and appeal to him to take the initiative to resolve the water dispute, the Chief Minister said. The State Government has been unable to implement the projects after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government withdrew its approval after Goa raised objections to the project. The S.M. Krishna Government had sanctioned Rs. 44.48 crores for the Kalasa project and Rs. 40.20 crores for Banduri Nala project.

Mr. Dharam Singh said he has discussed the issue with Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, and requested them to take the initiative for resolving the dispute. The Chief Minister appealed to the elected representatives of Dharwad and Belgum districts to call off their proposed strike on Thursday opposing the delay in the execution of the project. Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa, suggested to the Government to lead the delegation. Prahlad Joshi, BJP MP from Dharwad North; and Basavaraj Bommai, MLC (Janata Dal-United) have decided to hold a meeting of farmers at Naragund.

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