Team Herald
PANJIM: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday urged the BJP-led government to conduct an inquiry into the Rs 2.11 crore expenses on the State legal team in 22 hearings before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal since 2012, failing which it has threatened to approach the Lokayukta.
Addressing the media, Shiv Sena president Sudip Tamankar, said that as per information obtained under Right to Information (RTI) Act, the government paid Rs 86.89 lakh to former Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni as professional fees.
“On the other hand, on the Mhadei water dispute, which was initially fought before the Supreme Court between 2007-2012, the government spent only Rs 10.89 lakh on 28 hearings,” he pointed out. Moreover, the party pointed out that the government has appointed a panel of 17 lawyers to defend Goa before the tribunal, who are provided expenses like food charges (Rs 9.48lakh), transportation charges (17.44 lakh) and other expenses as Rs 5.2 lakh,” he said.
“We demand that government initiate an inquiry into this failing which we will approach the Lokayukta,” Tamankar said demanding that Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar immediately resign or be asked to step down for failing to resolve the Mhadei crisis in the last four years.
