Protest against Mhadai panel in Belgaum, train blocked

Protest against Mhadai panel in Belgaum, train blocked
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
BELGAUM, OCT 23
There has been rising opposition to the recent Supreme Court order to the Centre to declare a notification to establish a Mhadai (Mandovi) River Tribunal to resolve the water dispute between Goa and Karnataka.
The opposition has been fuelled by fears that the tribunal may work in favour of Goa and against the interest of Karnataka.
BJP leaders and leaders of other organizations in the region have stated that order of forming of a tribunal is biased as there is no need to form such a tribunal.
Protesting against this order, the Narayan Gowda faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) had blocked the Haripriya Express at Belgaum Railway Station for about 15 minutes on Friday.
Led by district president Rajeev Topannavar, KRV activists protested on the tracks in front of the Tirupati-Kolhapur train at Belgaum Railway station and shouted slogans against forming the tribunal, as it may work against the interest of Karnataka.
“Karnataka has initiated the project to utilize water for agriculture and drinking purposes for the people of north Karnataka,” Topannavar said.
“This water is of no major use for Goa as most of it is wasted as it flows into the Arabian Sea.”
“Since Goa depends entirely on Karnataka for its essential commodities like vegetables, foodgrains, milk, meat, etc, it should not oppose the project to avoid problems in future,” Topannavar added.
He also alleged that the Union government is supporting Goa as it has a Congress government at Centre.