Team Herald

PORVORIM: The government on Tuesday told the State Legislative Assembly that it is committed not to allow any diversion of water from Mhadei river basin, as proposed by Karnataka and Maharashtra. 

“Diversion of water from Mhadei basin by the State of Karnataka and Maharashtra will have adverse effect on State of Goa. Government decision is reflected in the legal stand of Government before Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal that no diversion should be permitted,” Minister for Water Resources Department Vinod Palyekar said.

A series of questions related to the status of the Mhadei case were tabled by Congress MLAs Digambar Kamat, Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, Filipe Neri Rodrigues and Jeniffer Monserrate.

Denying that government has issued a letter to the third party, the Minister said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had replied to a letter written by BJP Karnataka President. 

Palyekar said that the quantum of fresh water in the Mhadei basin at 75 per cent dependability is 113.50 TMC. 

Responding to a question on whether Karnataka and Maharashtra governments continue with the work at the site, Minister said that currently there is no work in progress. 

“However, so far Karnataka has done works like Interconnecting conduit of about 4.50 kms, Open canal of about 2.70 kms and Part of head regulator, during the period of function of Tribunal,” he said.

“State of Maharashtra had commenced the work of an earthen dam on Kattika nallah, which is a tributary of Virdi nadi,” Minister added.

Palyekar said that Karnataka envisages diversion of water from Mhadei river by 12 projects out of which they had started the work on diversion work at Kalasa nalla, while Maharashtra envisages diversion of water via the proposed Virdi dam on Kattika nallah.