On Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s recent appeal for a united front to secure Karnataka’s water rights. However, he expressed concern about his previous silence on key irrigation issues and alleged alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.
Siddaramaiah responded to Gowda’s remarks about an impending drinking water crisis and the need for collective action, saying he welcomed the former Prime Minister’s statement but found his current stance contradictory. He stated, “I have always advocated for Karnataka’s rights, regardless of political affiliations. But where was this unity when the state’s critical water projects were delayed?
Gowda had urged all major parties in the state to fight for Karnataka’s rightful share of 25tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Godavari basin through the Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery interlinking project. “There should be no politics here. When it comes to Karnataka’s interests, I will not back down. “All parties should set aside their differences,” he stated.
Siddaramaiah recalled how he personally approached Gowda during the 2016 Cauvery water crisis, when Karnataka was ordered to release water to Tamil Nadu. “Despite our political differences, I went to his house, persuaded him to attend an all-party meeting, and we stood together for Karnataka. But today, he appears to be taking a different approach,” he said.
The CM claimed that Gowda’s recent stance indicated a soft spot for the BJP. “People in Karnataka remember the former prime minister as someone who fought for their rights. But now, he appears to be siding with the BJP for political reasons. “Is this shift necessary just to secure a Union ministerial position for his son?” he inquired.
Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of stalling Karnataka’s key irrigation projects. “The Kalasa-Banduri nala project, which was approved in March 2023, has seen no progress due to objections from Goa over forest land acquisition. The Centre has also failed to act on the Krishna Tribunal’s decision, which granted Karnataka 173 TMC of water, he claimed.
He also questioned the delay in the Mekedatu project, which was intended to provide drinking water to Bengaluru while also generating hydropower. He stated, “If the Centre truly cares about Karnataka, it should approve this project without delay. “The state has done its part; why is the Modi government silent?”
Meanwhile, Gowda expressed concerns over the lack of clarity on the Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery interlinking project. “I have sought answers in Parliament on how 15.91 tmcft from the Godavari will be diverted to the Ghataprabha. The details remain unclear, and Karnataka deserves to know how this will be executed. I will be writing to the PM,” he said.
He emphasised that Karnataka had been repeatedly shortchanged in water-sharing disputes. “We have experienced injustice in the Cauvery issue, Kalasa-Banduri, and now the Godavari-Cauvery linking project. “This cannot continue,” he stated.
Gowda added that Tamil Nadu MPs had supported the interlinking proposal when he raised it. “Karnataka’s rights in the Cauvery dispute have been ignored, and I have taken this matter to Prime Minister Modi. We need to ensure that water reaches the drought-hit districts of Chitradurga and Tumakuru,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the Upper Bhadra Project, Gowda said the state government must act first. “The government announces projects but does not allocate funds. Let them take the first step before expecting the Centre’s approval,” he said.
Siddaramaiah, however, urged Gowda to return to his earlier role as a staunch advocate for Karnataka’s interests. “The Deve Gowda we knew never compromised on Karnataka’s rights. Today, he appears to be playing a different role. However, he still has the courage to defend the state. “If he leads the fight, the government and people of Karnataka will support him,” he said.
