Bangalore: The State Government is in a bind over the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project over which it is involved in a legal dispute with Goa. The coalition partners — the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) — are divided over whether to proceed with the work, which has just begun.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa told The Hindu that he was firm that the Government should go ahead with the implementation of the project. As Finance Minister he had released Rs. 100 crore for its execution.

The State Cabinet has cleared the project.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has remained silent on the issue, which has resulted in a growing rift between the two States concerned.

The BJP, which has fought for the implementation of the project for nearly a decade, is committed to it. Its stand is that since it is a drinking water project, it is outside the purview of inter-State river water disputes.

The JD(S) is firm that the Government should abide by the directions of the Supreme Court before which a petition filed by Goa is pending.

Meeting to be held

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu here on Thursday that Mr. Kumaraswamy, now on a tour of Hassan and Bellary districts, was expected to call a high-level meeting after he returns to discuss the course of action.

Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has stated that his State will file a contempt of court petition as Karnataka is implementing the project in violation of its undertaking that it would start work on the project only on directions from the Supreme Court. He has also said that Karnataka has behaved in an "uncivilised" manner by going ahead with the project.

Mr. Yediyurappa, along with Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar and Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti, laid the foundation stone of the project on September 22, 2006 at Kanakumbi village in Khanapur taluk of Belgaum district. The Chief Minister stayed away from the function.

Work on building a 4.4-km canal has started and Karnataka plans to utilise 7.56 tmcft of water diverted from the Kalasa and Banduri nalas (tributaries of the Mahadayi river) exclusively for drinking water supply.

The project will help ease the drinking water scarcity in the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad and several villages in the region.

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