Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, Aug 16: The ministry of coalition government in the state will be expanded after local body and by-elections, said former chief minister Siddaramaiah here on Wednesday, August 15.

Speaking during 72nd Independence Day celebrations at KPCC office, Siddaramaiah said that he would go to New Delhi when the AICC president invites him.

"Several years have passed-by since we received independence but still we have not completely successful in implementing what is proposed in our Constitution. Every citizen of the nation must be ensured freedom and social justice," he said.

Reacting to Mahadayi verdict, Siddaramaiah said, "The verdict is somewhat satisfactory. Though we had demanded 36.5 TMC water, we have received only 13.5 TMC as per the verdict given by the tribunal. For drinking water purpose they have allotted 5.4 TMC water and remaining will be used for power generation. But even after using it for power generation, the water will go to Goa and we will not be getting any benefit."

It may be recalled that the Mahadayi River Water Tribunal on August 14 ended 50-year-old water dispute with Goa and ruled that Karnataka will get 13.5 TMC feet of water from the Mahadayi. In its verdict on Tuesday, the tribunal allotted 5.5 TMC feet water to the Mumbai-Karnataka region for drinking purposes, 8.2 TMC for power generation, 1.12 TMC and 2.18 TMC for Kalasa and Banduri streams, respectively.