PANJIM: Days after Karnataka attempted to block the Mhadei tributary by resuming the work of the Kalsa nullah dam, Goa Government on Monday filed a voluminous summary of arguments before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) stressing on the fact that trans basin diversion will deprive people of Goa water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purpose, as well as be a disaster for aquatic, marine life and ecology.
The tribunal will hear final arguments on the inter-state water sharing issue between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra from Feb 6. The final verdict is expected in August.
The Goa legal team said the State filed a brief summary of arguments which runs into three volumes. “The summary of arguments has been prepared dealing topic wise with the various issues framed by the tribunal. Brief arguments running into three volumes is roughly around 531 pages,” officials said.
The first volume contains the case and pleadings of the State of Goa, along with excerpts of the evidence on hydrology placed by the State through its witnesses.
The second volume contains arguments and submissions on the environmental aspect as pleaded by the State and so also the evidence placed on record through its witnesses on marine, wild life, marine ecology, environmental flows and adverse impacts to environment.
The third volume contains specific arguments on various legal issues such as, non compliance of Karnataka to various statutory provisions, and so also referral to the international law on river disputes and diversion of water, amongst others.
“Goa’s case is essentially the challenge to the proposed 12 projects by Karnataka in the Western Ghats, on interstate River Mhadei and thereafter, the further proposal for the trans-basin diversion into Malaprabha reservoir from the river,” officials said.
Officials said that Goa is primarily opposed to Karnataka’s proposed 12 projects as well as the Maharashtra projects, trans basin diversion since it would result in a complete disaster of aquatic life, marine life, and terrestrial ecology and deprive the people of Goa of the water for drinking as well as irrigation and industrial purposes.
