PANJIM: In view of the urgency of the inter-state water diversion matter involving Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the final hearing in the matter before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) continued on Saturday. The tribunal has also allowed proceedings to take place on Sunday.
The final hearing in Mhadei river water sharing dispute commenced from February 6, with Goa’s arguments. “Keeping in view the urgency of the matter and the likely time to be taken by the learned counsels in addressing their oral final submissions as well as the paucity of time available in the Tribunal, with the consent of all the concerned, directs that the present final hearing proceedings will continue on Saturday and Sunday February 18,” Tribunal chairman JM Panchal said in the order.
The term of the tribunal is slated to expire in August, however, Goa has moved for further extension to the tribunal term.
In its submission, Goa reiterated that Mhadei is a deficit basin and any diversion of water to the Malaprabha basin, will deprive the Goa of the minimum drinking water requirements apart from there being no water available for irrigation, industrial, navigation, ecology etc.
