Team Herald

PANJIM: In what could give a major boost to Goa’s battle on the Mhadei water diversion case before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal, the Karnataka government told the Supreme Court that it will not go ahead with the construction work of Kalsa-Bhandura project in Kankumbi. 

Disposing the petition filed by MBA that challenged Karnataka’s project on environmental grounds, the Apex Court granted MBA leave to approach the Court if Karnataka violates and goes ahead with the construction work.  MBA member Rajendra Kerkar said, “When the matter came up before the Court, neither Karnataka nor the Ministry of Environment and Forest provided details of the application made by Karnataka seeking environmental clearance for the project,” he said. 

“On that ground, Karnataka counsel Fali Nariman submitted before the Court that it will not undertake any construction work at the Kalsa Bhandura,” Kerkar said adding that the submission was admitted by the Court and the petition was disposed off. 

Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar said, “The order by Supreme Court shows that Goa’s stand is firm and clear on Mhadei issue. Karnataka has exposed itself in the SC. Karnataka now should stop playing. I will be attending the next hearing of Mhadei tribunal in September.”

MBA had approached SC in 2007 challenging Karnataka government project on the environmental ground and had pointed out that the project is been undertaken without obtaining EC from MoEF&CC. MBA had also sought direction from the court to maintain status quo in the project.