Mahadayi issue: Cong divided as Goa unit hardens stand

The Goa Congress today said they won't allow diversion of Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin as sought by neighbouring Karnataka.
The southern state and Goa have been at loggerheads over sharing of the river water.
Congress spokesman and former union minister Ramakant Khalap told reporters that there would not be any compromise on the issue even if Karnataka Chief Minister and party leader Siddaramaiah desires so.
"Be it BJP's Yeddyurappa or Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, they have no right to divert the water from the Mahadei river basin to Malaprabha basin. We will not allow this to happen," Khalap said responding to a query.

He said even at the Congress party level in Goa, there would be no compromise on the issue.
The Congress in poll-bound Karnataka had sought an intervention of party president Rahul Gandhi to convince their Goa counterparts to change their stand and allow the water to be diverted for drinking purpose from the Mahadayi water basin.
"Our stand is very much clear, at no cost will we allow the Mahadayi water to be diverted," Khalap said.