Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010950430300.htm

Karnataka

Delegation meets Prime Minister

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: An all-party delegation from Goa, led by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi to seek his intervention in the Mhadei river water dispute between Goa and Karnataka.

According to a spokesman of Goa Government, the Prime Minister promised the delegation that he would look into the aspect of expediting the constitution of a tribunal to resolve the Mhadei water dispute.

Goa Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik, who was also part of the delegation, told The Hindu from New Delhi that the Prime Minister told the Chief Minister that he would also discuss the matter with the Water Resources Minister Soifuddin Soz and sort out the matter.

Besides the Chief Minister and Mr. Naik, the team consisted of Ministers from Congress-led coalition, two BJP MLAs and Chief Secretary J.P. Singh.

Mr. Kamat told the Prime Minister that Karnataka was going ahead with works on the Mhadei basin site despite the Supreme Court order to maintain a status quo in the matter, Mr. Naik said.