PANJIM: The crucial hearing before the Mhadei Water
Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) will commence from Tuesday, wherein the cross
examination of Goa’s witness and hydrology expert Chetan Pandit will continue.
Pandit cross examination will be followed by
Additional Solicitor General of India Atmaram Nadkarni cross-examining
Karnataka’s witness in the contentious water diversion dispute.
“The counsel representing Karnataka before
the tribunal will cross-examine Pandit on the hydrology aspect (availability of
water in Mhadei). This is the continuation of his previous cross examination.
Thereafter, Nadkarni will cross-examine Karnataka’s witness,” said the source.
About six month back, Pandit had criticized
the central water commission data on which Karnataka is relying on, to seek
diversion of water from the Mhadei basin. The tribunal had permitted Goa to
submit evidence on other issues raised by this witness.
In a major relief to Goa after an anxious wait, the Union
Ministry for Law has granted permission to Additional Solicitor General Atmaram
Nadkarni to appear on behalf of State before the tribunal.
The State had won its first battle when the tribunal
declined Karnataka’s plea to divert 7 TMC of water from the Mhadei River, last
year in July. Karnataka challenged the order in the Apex Court in August, which
was disposed off in January, this year.
However, its main petition before the MWDT to divert 56 TMC
of water from Mhadei River, filed in 2006, is still pending.
