Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has requested the Karnataka government to avoid any forcible violations by them to disrupt status quo on the Kalasa-Banduri project, issued by the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT).
In an communication to the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Parsekar has pointed out that it has been reported in section of press that some group of activists with probable support of political forces have envisaged to break upon the blocks or seals ordered by the Tribunal in June 2014.
“Since the Tribunal order is binding on all the parties to the dispute, it is requested that the government of Karnataka takes all required steps to ensure compliance of order, including preventive steps to avoid any forcible violations to disrupt status quo or to damage to the blocks or ridge line,” Parsekar said.
He said that Goa and Karnataka are law abiding and that the government will do its utmost to uphold due process of law and prevent any untoward incident.
“Any attempt at damaging the block or seal provided by the Tribunal shall be tantamount to be contempt of the legal body even if done in symbolic way” he said.
“I am confident that you will prevent any such illegal acts, as are being apprehended on the basis of news reports, from happening in the interest of upholding rule of law and the cordial relations that have long existed between our States,” he added.
The Tribunal in its order dated April 17, 2014 had directed that the State of Karnataka shall not actually utilize the water or divert the water from Kalasa-Banduri project until the disputes between the three States – Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka are finally adjudicated by the Tribunal.
Later in June 2014, Tribunal provided blocks on the both the vents of diversion canal.
