Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday hailed the Centre for appointing National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee to study salinity of Mhadei. The statement comes three days after the Centre claimed that Karnataka and Maharashtra do not need consent from Goa for the Kalsa-Bhanduri project, though they require permissions as per law from different ministries and authorities.
“Salinity is one of the core issues raised by Goa before Mhadei Tribunal and the Supreme court. The central Government’s decision to appoint National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee to study the salinity issue with respect to Mhadei, is a welcome move. This study will help us in our case. Till then, Karnataka’s project will not be cleared,” Sawant said in a two-thread tweet late Sunday night.
While the Centre snubbed Goa’s concerns over the project, the Centre, however, appointed the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee to study the salinity in the Mhadei as demanded by Goa.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a letter to Goa CM had said that regarding prior consent of the lower riparian State, Goa may refer to the Report-cum-Decision of Mhadei Water Dispute dated August 14, 2018 (para 766 of volume VI).
Shekhawat’s letter was in reply to Sawant’s letter dated March 5, 2020 wherein he had raised objections on Karnataka’s plans to divert water.
