Will not give a single drop of Mahadayi water to K'taka: Goa Minister

Goa's Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar on Wednesday firmly stated that his state will not compromise with Karnataka on Mahadayi water issue.

"We can never compromise on this issue, our people hardly get sufficient water, how can we give them (Karnataka)? Its just not possible," Palyekar told ANI on Mahadayi water dispute.

He added that Goa will not give even a single drop of Mahadayi river water to Karnataka.

"It is like our mother, every drop of this river is precious for us. We will not compromise on this issue. Will not give even a single drop of water to Karnataka," he said.

The Pro-Kalasa-Banduri project organisations on Wednesday called for a bandh and staged a protest in Karnataka over Mahadayi water dispute.

The state of Karnataka and Goa are at loggerheads on the issue of sharing inter-state Mahadayi river water.

While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah has called for a meeting with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar respectively "to arrive at a negotiated settlement" over the issue.

The Karnataka has sought the release of 7.56 tmcft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.

The Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion project is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.