Team Herald
PANJIM: The Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal on Wednesday directed Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to produce the hydrology-water surface plan of River Mhadei, and adjourned the hearing to July 17.
When the matter came up before the tribunal Wednesday morning, the Goa government said that if the plan to build dam across the Mhadei and divert the water by Karnataka and Maharashtra materializes, it will have irreparable effects on the fragile ecology and environment of Goa.
Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni said the State insisted on framing environmental issues as vital issues stating that an inter-state Tribunal has to decide all issues. “Goa for the first time raised the issue of Western Ghats and bio-diversity which virtually ruffled Karnataka and Maharashtra,” he said.
Nadkarni said the Tribunal suggested that the issue of hydrology be proved by all States before other issues can be gone into. “Goa stated its witnesses are ready to depose and go ahead with evidence and water availability,” Nadkarni said.
Nadkarni said that the Mhadei River dispute has entered a crucial stage with the pleadings by the parties having been completed. The Tribunal also accepted Goa’s plea on framing of 60 issues for trial.
Presently, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd has stopped work on the Kalsa canal in Kankumbi on account of heavy rains. Major works of the Kalsa canal have been completed by Karnataka. So far no work of the dam has been taken up since the area of the proposed Kalsa dam is in the reserved forests.
On the other hand, Maharashtra has completed its Virdi dam along with work of the underground tunnel.
