Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa government will file a contempt application before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal on Wednesday against Karnataka’s act of diverting water to the Malaprabha basin in the neighbouring State.
A team of Water Resources Department (WRD) officials that visited Kankumbi confirmed that Mhadei River water has been diverted though the matter is pending before the Tribunal and that Karnataka in a written submission had informed the Tribunal that it will not divert the water.
The final hearing in the matter has been concluded and the verdict is expected to come before August 20, as the tribunal’s term expires on this date.
Speaking to media persons, WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar said that a team of government officials has left for Delhi, and would file an application before the Tribunal on Wednesday, against the illegal diversion of water to the Malaprabha basin.
He said the team, during its inspection, found that Karnataka has constructed a five-kilometer long tunnel to divert the water to the Malaprabha basin.
“The tribunal is expected to give its verdict next month in the dispute on sharing Mhadei Water River between Goa and Karnataka. Without waiting for the results,
Karnataka has done this action which amounts to contempt of the tribunal,” the minister said.
He said that the diversion of water was brought to the notice after a section of the media from Goa reported about it. “Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar also called the department to complain about the diversion,” he added.
Earlier this year, Karnataka had stopped the flow of water coming to Goa, and following that Goa government had objected strongly, which had compelled Karnataka to remove the ‘major portion’ and the natural flow of water was then restored.
