River row: Karnataka ready for talks with Goa, Maharashtra

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government is ready for talks with Goa and Maharashtra to explore an out of court settlement solution of the Mahadayi river water dispute, state Water Resources Minister M B Patil today said.

"We are ready for opening up talks with governments of Goa and Maharashtra any moment to explore out of court settlement of Mahadayi issue. Our Chief Minister is ready, even today despite being busy with presidential elections," he told reporters here.

Patil said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already written letter to his counterpart in Goa, Manohar Parrikar on the issue, asking him to come for talks to which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis had also extended support.

Siddaramaiah has written to Parrikar asking him to agree to a joint meeting with their Maharashtra counterpart in order to find an "out of court" and amicable resolution, he said.

The minister said even the tribunal had suggested out- of-court settlement.

Goa and Karnataka are locked in a long-drawn dispute over the latter's controversial Kalsa-Bhanduri dam projects across the Mahadayi, which is known as Mandovi river once it enters Goa.

Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the waters into its water-starved Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka.

Goa has been opposing any plans of Karnataka to divert waters from one basin to another. Maharashtra is also a party to the water dispute.