Interstate river water disputes: Karnataka CM Bommai holds meeting with legal team
New Delhi(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai on Thursday held a meeting here with legal and technical experts to chalk out strategies for tackling water sharing disputes with neighbouring states.
"Had a detailed discussion with the legal team on Supreme Court cases related to interstate river water disputes. Several issues were discussed," Bommai told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting was held at the Karnataka Bhavan here.
Emerging from the meeting, the CM said he had met senior advocates Mohan Khatri on Wednesday and Shyam Divan this morning and discussed ways to proceed in view of the existing water disputes.
With regard to the Mekedatu project, Bommai said it has been decided to put forth the state government's stand when the case gets listed for hearing next time.
Karnataka has proposed a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu in Ramanagara district, but the Tamil Nadu government has opposed it vehemently.
Further, Bommai said the dispute over Kalasa-Banduri Nala project on the Mahadayi river was also discussed.
The hearing of this case is listed on September 2. The main issues in the special leave petition were discussed in the meeting, he added.
Holding that water projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu are illegal in nature, Bommai said another petition will be filed in the Supreme Court against the neighbouring state and the matter will also be taken up with the Centre.
"Many issues were discussed in the meeting. In a week or so, they will inform us of the progress. Our government is constantly trying to resolve long-pending cases," he added.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister Govind Karajola, Health Minister K Sudhakar, MP Shivakumar Udasi, Water Resources Department Deputy Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, chief minister's general secretary Manjunath Prasad, Advocate General Prabhu Linga Navadagi and others were present in the meeting.
The CM, on the second day of his visit, plans to call on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya among others.
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Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
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"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
