Date:09/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060906420500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kalasa-Banduri: Congress team to meet Manmohan

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Even as the ruling coalition in the State is making a hue and cry over Congress President Sonia Gandhi's reported remark on diversion of the Mahadayi waters, the party leadership in the State has decided approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as Ms. Gandhi to clear the hurdles coming in the way of completion of Kalasa-Banduri Nala.

The projects are envisaged to provide drinking water to the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad and Gadag by diverting 7.5 tmcft. of water from the Mahadayi to the Malaprabha.

Defending their "supreme leader", the Congress leaders argued that the project was kept in abeyance following a direction from the then National Democratic Alliance Government at the centre. The Centre had bowed to the pressure by the then BJP Government in Goa, they said. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh told presspersons on Friday that a delegation led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M. Mallikarjun Kharge would meet Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi in New Delhi to prevail upon them go give an early clearance

The delegation would apprise Dr. Singh on the injustice meted out to the State by staying the construction of drinking water projects. The people of Dharwad, Gadag and Belgaum districts staged protests opposing Ms. Gandhi's statement during Goa Assembly election campaign that her party would not allow diversion of water from the Mahadayi.

Mr. Singh alleged that projects were stalled by the NDA Government on the plea of the BJP Government in Goa.

An official in the Water Resources Department told The Hindu that the State Government had filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court seeking its permission to allow construction work on projects.