lOrdered by Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal l Will stop diversion of Mhadei water into Karnataka lWork likely to be completed before onset of monsoons.
TEAM HERALD
MAYEM: Karnataka Nirawari Nigam (KNN) has finally started the construction work of a bundh in the middle of Kalsa canal on Wednesday evening.
The Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal in its interim order dated April 17 directed the Karnataka government to construct a bundh to stop diversion of Mhadei water to Karnataka. The Tribunal had also directed the Karnataka government to complete the bundh work by May 31 to avoid hurdles during monsoon. Later, Advocate General of Goa Atmaram Nadkarni had also made it clear that Karnataka is bound to obey the court order at any cost.
With the beginning of the work on Wednesday, Goa will get some relief as far as problem of Mhadei river water dispute is concerned.
KNN assistant engineer S V Naik said the work of the bundh has been started in a manner suggested by the advisory committee of the tribunal. “The work will be completed before the onset of monsoon,” assured Naik.
Superintendent engineer Ashok Wasnad said the work to construct the bundh has already started. “Superintendent engineers from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka will supervise the work undertaken on May 23,” he said.
Superintendent engineer Premanand Kamat and executive engineer Srikant Patil from WRD Goa on Wednesday evening inspected the ongoing work and found that KNN is attempting to complete the work in the same manner as suggested by the Tribunal.
Meanwhile, a team of environmentalists which visited the area under the guidance of Rajendra Kerkar said the work is not likely to be completed before May 31.
“After inspecting the ongoing work, it seems that it will not be possible to control diversion of water towards Karnataka before May 31, as it will be difficult to complete the work due to frequent incidents of soil erosion that might occur during monsoon,” said Kerkar.
