River dispute:Kumaraswamy seeks appointment with Goa PCC chief

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today shot off a letter to Goa Congress President Luizinho Faleiro seeking an appointment to discuss the Mahadayi river water dispute.
"I wish to meet your (Faleiro) goodself personally to appraise you about the problem and proposed solution for Mahadayi river water dispute on a day when I come to meet Goa Chief Minister (Laxmikant Parsekar). Earlier, I had written a letter to him seeking an appointment," he said in a letter, a copy of which was emailed to the media here.
"I need your valuable time to discuss the issue, share my feelings, experiences, information and opinion regarding the same in the best interests of the people of both the states," the Karnataka JDS chief said.

Kumraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, said people of Karnataka have intensified their agitation for providing drinking water from the Mahadayi river to the Malaprabha river basin as part of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, over which the state has locked horns with neighbouring Goa.
In the light of the issue pending before the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal for adjudication, reaching consensus between the two states on water sharing is the only way forward which will benefit people at large.
"It should not be a problem for Karnataka and Goa to sort out the issue through negotiations as both the states share several commonalities," he said.

The borders between the two states is only on the paper, but not between human beings, he said.

"There are similarities in culture, language and food habits of both states. These commonalities have resulted in the people of both the states sharing a special bonding. Let us take this people-to-people bonding to a higher level by finding a solution," he said.
A negotiation to resolve the dispute setting aside the political differences in the best interest of both the states in particular and country in general is need of the hour, Kumaraswamy said.
Kumraswamy said the issue has once again gained prominence as Karnataka is facing one of the worst droughts this year.

As many as 27 put of 30 districts of the state, especially North Karnataka, are reeling under severe drought, Kumaraswamy said.