PANJIM: Stating that the Karnataka government cannot undertake construction work in Mhadei river basin, Advocate General Devidas Pangam claimed that the State government is fully prepared to argue its case in the Supreme Court, likely to commence from November 28.
Pangam said that he has been holding regular meetings with the senior counsels appointed by the State government to defend the case.
“We are meeting regularly and we met for three days in Mumbai last week,” he said adding that the Goa government has filed a written submission before the Apex Court. Additional written submissions are getting ready and they too will be filed in the Court within next fortnight, he added.
Pangam said that Karnataka cannot start any construction activity in Mhadei river basin without obtaining permissions from the Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Karnataka does not have forest clearance or the clearance from the Chief Wildlife Warden as per the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and therefore they cannot go ahead with any construction activity, he said.
Pangam further said that the Karnataka government issuing tenders for works is nothing new as they had floated the same tender earlier in March this year.
Goa has filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Mhadei Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal to permit Karnataka to divert Mhadei waters.
