Panaji (Goa) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to call for a tripartite discussion along with Maharashtra for “negotiated settlement” on the Mhadei river water diversion issue before the final hearing on the matter resumes before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT). The final hearing before the Tribunal is slated to commence from February 6, next year.  

Siddaramaiah letter dated December 22 addressed to Parrikar comes a day after Goa Chief Minister wrote to his Karnataka BJP President BS Yeddurappa on“humanitarian” ground agreeing for bilateral discussion on the issue of release of “reasonable and justified” quantum of water for drinking purpose to Karnataka.

“The media in Karnataka has been reporting a personal letter addressed by you (Parrikar) to BS Yeddurappa who is the President of BJP of Karnatak. I only wish you had replied to may letter dated  May 24, 2017, since I took the initiative for the negotiated settlement; not only on my own but also on the suggestion made by the Hon’ble Judges of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal on September 1, 2016,” he said.

Siddharamaiah in his letter in May, addressed also to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, had suggested that the Chief Ministers of the three state meet at Bangalore at any convenient date in June. However, he said, he did not got any response from Goa.

“I once again request that, we the Chief Ministers of the three States of Mhadei basin- Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, meet on any convenient date and time, at the earliest and at the avenue of your choice, so as to try and arrive at a negotiated settlement,” Karnataka Chief Minister said.

“The matter is urgent because the Tribunal has fixed the final hearing from February 6, 2018 to February 22, 2018,” he added.