Talking to newspersons after a meeting convened by Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the three states presented their views on the proposed Kalasa-Banduri Nala which seeks to divert 7.5 tmc of water from Mandovi popularly known as Mahadayi in Karnataka to provide drinking water to drought-prone north Karnataka.

He said Karnataka was for resolving the issue through centrally sponsored negotiation as any adjudication by the Tribunal was a time consuming process which was not in the interest of basin states of Karnataka and Goa. Maharashtra is a minor riparian state in the dispute.

He said Karnataka had repeatedly stated that Mahadayi was not a deficit basin and a small diversion during the monsoon flow would neither affect the flow nor adversely affect the environment and ecology. The last meeting was held in December 2002 after the Centre kept in abeyance its in-principle clearance following Goan objections.

He said the water yield in the 35 km flow in Karnataka was estimated to be around 40-45 tmc for the river as against the total yield of 200 tmc from the catchments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

Asked why Karnataka always faced problems with its neighbours, Mr Kumaraswamy remarked, "we are cooperating with everybody but every one of them tend to over-ride us." Mr Kumawamy is to meet Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad during his official visit.

UNI MCN PK KP1652