Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking serious cognizance of the alleged move by Karnataka on the Mhadei water diversion issue, the Goa government has decided to issue a show cause notice to the Kankumbi based Delta Resort, for their alleged involvement in blocking the flow of water, thereby resulting in the Surla waterfall drying up.
The State government has also directed the Forest Department to take necessary action against the resort owner, for trying to disturb the eco-sensitive zone.
In an emergency meeting called by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday morning, it was decided to raise the alleged violations before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT), during the next hearing scheduled on April 27.
Speaking to Herald after the meeting, Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, who had sought the chief minister’s immediate intervention in the matter, said that the meeting resolved to issue a show cause notice to the resort owner for trying to block the flow of water. “The area being identified as eco-sensitive zone, the Forest Department is being directed to act accordingly,” he said.
Nadkarni said that it was learnt that an hotelier has put sand bags and blocked the flow of the river, which resulted in Surla waterfall running dry. “Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, water flow cannot be stopped and hence the wildlife warden has to act,” he stated.
The meeting was also attended by Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, Chief Secretary RK Srivastav and Chief Conservator of Forest Ajai Saxena.
The State government has already rejected Karnataka’s proposal for an out of court settlement and said the dispute should be resolved through the Water Disputes Tribunal.
Karnataka is seeking to draw 7.2 tmc ft of water from the Kalasa-Banduri streams, the tributaries of Mhadei River, and divert them to the Malaprabha River to quench the thirst of people of several towns and villages including Hubballi-Dharwad.
