Forty protesters halt train service

Around 6.15 this morning, 40 members from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) carried out huge protests after hearing the Supreme Court's decision regarding water sharing between Karnataka and Goa.

Around 6.15 this morning, 40 members from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) carried out huge protests after hearing the Supreme Court's decision regarding water sharing between Karnataka and Goa.
The members of KRV got agitated when yesterday the Supreme Court gave its judgment in favour of the Goa government in the Kalasa Bandhuri Madai Yojana case. It deals with the sharing of water from the river Mandovi between Karnataka and Goa.

Agitation: Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stage a protest at Bangalore Central railway station over the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Kalasa Bandhuri Madai Yojana case. pic/Bindiya carmeline thomas

The protesters gathered at Bangalore Central railway station and stood in front of the Lalbagh Express shouting slogans demanding a reversal in the judgment provided by the Supreme Court.

Return our water
"The BJP government in Goa must return the drinking water that belongs to Karnataka. The central government must also intervene at any cost. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi must rule on this issue," said Sanirappa, state secretary of Rakshana Vedike.u00a0u00a0 "If the BJP-JD (S) government had any self respect, they would not allow this to happen and they should stop destroying Karnataka."

Inspector RD Patil from the Railway Protection Force said, "These protesters are not allowing the train to move ahead. They have been here since 6 am in the morning, shouting and protesting. We don't know when they will stop but if they continue for much longer, we will have no choice but to arrest them."

The issue so far

A conflict between the two governments emerged over the construction of Kalasa Bandhuri Madai Yojana project across the Mandovi River. Goa, in its suitu00a0 has contended that the project contemplated by Karnataka in the inter-State river of Mandovi involved diversion of water outside the basin. The State argued any extraction of water by the upper riparian State of Karnataka would deprive the inhabitants of Goa of drinking water and consequently affect their rights. Karnataka, however, rebutted the argument. It sought dismissal of the suit on the ground that Goa had not made out any prima facie case for seeking stay on the execution of the project.