PANJIM: The Supreme Court found no reason to entertain the interlocutory application (IA) filed by Goa government, seeking directions to restrain Karnataka from carrying out any activity on the proposed Kalasa-Bhandura project, and hence disposed it.
The Court, while disposing off the IA, maintained that the order passed by it on April 17, 2014, will continue to be operative and will stand vacated or revoked only after Karnataka prepares a revised detailed project report (DPR) and all mandatory clearances are obtained.
The SC has allowed Karnataka to take up works as per duly approved revised DPR, either by the Mhadei Water Management Authority or the Union Government.
Along with Karnataka, Maharashtra has also been directed to prepare a revised DPR of the Virdi project and get mandatory clearance, before going ahead with the work.
“It is evident that the order passed by the Tribunal on 17 April 2014 while disposing of IA No 1 of 2012 filed by the State of Goa is to continue in operation while certain conditions fulfilled,” the order stated. “Hence, there is no reason to entertain the interlocutory application which has been instituted by the State of Goa having regard to the above directions which have been issued by the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal,” the order added.
The Court also observed that applications have been moved before the Tribunal by all three States – Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. “The Interlocutory Application is, accordingly, disposed of,” the order mentioned.
The State had, in February, moved the Supreme Court with an IA to restrain Karnataka from acting upon any of the clearances or approvals obtained from Central agencies with respect to the consumptive uses within the basin or diversion of water outside the basin at the proposed Kalasa dam site. Goa government had also prayed for a joint inspection by the officials concerned at the site.
