The Karnataka Assembly today adopted a resolution, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in resolving the inter-state Mahadayi river dispute, amid protests by Opposition BJP members.
The resolution said that keeping in mind protests and conflicts in Karnataka and inter-state cordiality and to facilitate diversion of Mahadayi to the state, the Prime Minister should intervene and invite Chief Ministers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to resolve the dispute.
As Water Resources Minister M B Patil started reading out the resolution, Leader of the Opposition BJP Jagadish Shettar said any decision taken by the House would legally harm the interests of the state and amounts to politicising the issue.
Acknowledging the statement made by Law and Parliamentary Minister T B Jayachandra and Patil, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said as per rules, the House has the powers to adopt a resolution on matters concerning public interest, in spite of the case pending before the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal.
Shettar said BJP was ready for a debate, but before taking any decision on seeking Prime Minister's intervention, the government should seek legal opinion to protect the interest of the state.
Quoting from the rule book of parliamentary procedures, Shettar said the House cannot adopt a resolution if a matter is pending before any court or a tribunal.
Countering the arguments and quoting from the parliamentary rule book, Jayachandra said there have been innumerable instances in the past when the House had taken decisions over Cauvery and Krishna water disputes despite the matter pending before various tribunals and courts including the Supreme Court.
