Kannada organisations want Karnataka, Maharashtra to resolve stalemate over water exchange agreement

Belagavi Kannada organizations urge Karnataka and Maharashtra to resolve Krishna basin water exchange agreement to combat water scarcity.

Kannada organisations have urged Karnataka and Maharashtra to resolve the stalemate over the Krishna basin water exchange agreement that cav help both the States tide over water scarcity.

Both the neighbouring States are suffering from drought. Most of the districts in North Karnataka like Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur are facing acute drinking water scarcity.

The Krishna and the Bhima are drying up. Residents of hundreds of villages and towns who rely on these two rivers are facing shortage of drinking water. This can get worse in the coming days if rainfall is further delayed.

Ministers and officers in both the States should treat this as a priority and resolve the issue, Kannada associations have said this in a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“Though the situation is serious, no significant steps have been taken by the government or the Ministers to seek the release of water from Koyna and Warana reservoirs into the Krishna river course and Ujani reservoir into the Bhima river course in Maharashtra,” said Ashok Chandaragi, convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations.

“Most political parties and leaders are busy in election works. But farmers and home-makers are struggling to get drinking water. The only way districts in the Krishna basin will benefit is by the release of drinking water from Maharashtra reservoirs into the river course,” he said.

“On the other hand, Maharashtra government has been pushing for a water exchange agreement with Karnataka, for the last six years. But talks between Karnataka and Maharashtra on this have almost come to a standstill. These issues need to be resolved,” he said.