PANJIM: Contrary to its earlier stance of cooperating with Goa, the Maharashtra Government in its arguments before the Water Disputes Tribunal on Virdi Dam has taken strong objection to ‘divert’ water to Goa, stating that “Goa will not get a single drop of water from Virdi Dam.”
Maharashtra also argued before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal that the dam construction work was undertaken only after a nod given by a former chief minister of Goa. The officials also argued that the said work was not objectionable to Goa Government till the year 2012.
The Maharashtra Government took a strong stand and warned that Goa will not get a single drop of water from the Virdi dam as the dam is being constructed by Maharashtra for fulfilling its own needs. The officials clarified that, the work of dam construction was never objectionable to Goa from 2006 to 2012 and hence Goa Government cannot raise the objection all of sudden when one former chief minister of Goa permitted the Maharashtra Government to undertake dam construction work.
It is also pertinent to note that, Maharashtra Government had also changed the dam construction site without the knowledge of Goa Government besides changing its length and breadth.
The Goa Government will argue its case today before the tribunal and it is anticipated that, the State’s officials including advocate Atmaram Nadkarni have made full preparations to present the Goa side of the arguments in an efficient manner in the largest interest of the State.
