Making a statement on the issue raised by leader of the Opposition H K Patil in the Karnataka Legislative Council on Monday, Karnataka Irrigation Minister K N Nage Gowda stated that out of 210 TMC water available in the Mahadayi river, Karnataka had the right to utilise 55 TMC. But both states had failed to make use of the water which therefore simply flowed into the Arabian Sea, he added.

Gowda said Karnataka had sought an impact report from the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) on the Mahadayi hydel project to which Maharashtra had raised some objections.He informed the House that he. along with Chief Minister J H Patel. had held talks with Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane who had agreed in principle toprovide nine TMC water from the Mahadayi for drinking purposes. The NEERI report has been referred by the Goa Government to the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) for a detailed examination, he added.

The water will be diverted to the Malaprabha water project, Gowda said, out of which four TMC would be utilised for drinking purposes in Hubli and Dharwad. The Mahadayi river diversion project was also expected to irrigate 2.3 lakh hectares in Karnataka, the minister said.

Gowda said the proposal had to be sent to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for clearance. However, he maintained that there was no dispute between the states over the project. The project site, financial commitment and some other issues would be finalised by the expert committee before the proposal was sent to the CWC, the Irrigation minister said.