TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As the Mhadei water dispute between Goa and Karnataka seems to hot up again, an inter-State Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal, it is learnt, will be visiting Goa and Karnataka between December 12 and 22 to inspect the progress of work on the long-pending Kalsa-Bhandura project.
Maintaining its stand that Karnataka government is continuing works on the river diversion at the Kalsa nullah despite stay orders, Goa in an application in September had asked the tribunal to inspect the site.
Minister for Water Resources Dayanand Mandrekar when contacted by Herald said, “Let the tribunal inspect the site and see for themselves what is happening.”
Mandrekar said that all kinds of false reports were being circulated that Goa has withdrawn its case pointing out that the State will fight tooth and nail over the Mhadei water diversion issue.
Media reports from Bangalore have however quoted Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister M B Patil saying, “We have held discussions with the advocates representing the State before the Tribunal. We are going to present strong arguments before the Tribunal and have already taken measures to ensure that our interests are protected.”
It adds that the Karnataka government would follow the legal route of presenting its case before the Tribunal and make an appeal before the Tribunal to give the go-ahead for the project as it was for drinking water needs.
The Karnataka government appears determined to implement the project as much as Goa is in objecting to it. Goa has been opposing the execution of the project by Karnataka and other petitions are also pending before the apex court in this matter.
Maintaining its stand that Karnataka government is continuing works on the river diversion at the Kalsa nullah despite stay orders, Goa in an application in September had asked the tribunal to inspect the site
