How long will people have to fight for Mahadayi water?

It is a tragedy that farmers are agitating for past 2 years for a single aim unfulfilled. Political willingness absent, pushing the already parched land and farmers further dry. The senior leaders do not show the safe concern about Mahadayi River that they show towards Cauvery

The politicisation of farmers’ agitation and intentionally keeping the issue alive is a scam.

The river Mahadayi which should have been a MahaThayi (great mother) to the sons of soil of the Malaprabha basin is simmering in the stove of the self centred politicians and no solution is at near sight for the river to flow through the Kalasa-Banduri canals to wet the parched throats of the farmers. This particular issue is becoming a juggerknot by the day. The Mahadayi Tribunal completes its second term coming August 16 and yet there are no signs of solution. The Goa government has made it a prestige issue and is refusing to come for talks. The Nargund farmers’ agitation has now stepped into its second year and now they are intensifying the struggle.

The Karnataka government has already submitted the Statement of Claims along with necessary documents and project report to the Tribunal for the State’s part of 44.15 to 52.60 tmc water, out of which  a total 36,558 tmc, including the 7.56 tmc necessary for Kalasa Banduri, drinking purpose and for hydroelectric project has been claimed.  The State needs to impress upon the Tribunal, through its consuls, to quicken the hearing.  Goa and Maharashtra states also need to appeal. That is the only way to quicken the justice.

However, the farmers have no hopes of resolution as the Goa Government is making fresh claims every time and the time period of the Tribunal is limited. The only way out is for the Prime Minister to intervene. However, the BJP is trying to slip away saying the Tribunal formed only after the former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh failed to bring a consensus among the agitating states. But the situation is different now, as compared to then. The Centre, Goa and Maharashtra have BJP governments and only Karnataka that is screaming for justice has Congress as the ruling party.  If Prime Minister Modi wishes, he can solve the issue in one sitting.  It can green the parched Malaprabha region and supply water to 36 thirsty towns and cities. But the all party delegation that met the PM failed to impress upon him the urgency of the issue.  The BJP State leaders have no face to approach Modi again. Hence they continue to challenge the Congress mentioning the KPCC President Sonia Gandhi’s poll speech earlier supporting Goa and urge to convince the Congress leaders in Goa and Maharashtra.

It is also noticeable that the senior leaders do not show the safe concern about Mahadayi that they show towards Cauvery.  The Congress that bit the bitter fruit during the 1980s with the Nargund agitation does not take Mahadayi issue as a prestige but shows its finger at BJP and is just passing time writing to Goa and Centre once in awhile. Hence Mahadayi is getting muddied with political sewage and that means there are all chances of instigating another farmer’s agitation. All parties need to foresee this.