PANJIM: Karnataka on Saturday argued before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal to determine the Mhadei river water share of each State, pleading that allocation of water should be done by way of equitable apportionment.
However, the Tribunal, responding strongly, asked Karnataka to first justify the water needs of the State and that only if such need is justified the water share can be determined.
Senior counsel Mohan Katkari, appearing for Karnataka, made the argument and attempted to impress upon the tribunal that unless there is an injury and prejudice caused to Goa there is no inter-state water dispute in terms of the inter-state water dispute Act. The arguments will continue on Sunday.
Goa’s case is essentially the challenge to the proposed 12 projects by Karnataka in the Western Ghats, on River Mhadei and thereafter, the further proposal for trans-basin diversion into Malaprabha reservoir from the river.
Goa has exposed Karnataka, wherein under the guise of taking drinking water from the river, the actual plan is to utilise the water for sugarcane cultivation, which has grown from 224 hectares in 1979 to 2756 hectares in 2012-13.
