Team Herald
PANJIM: The Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) has adjourned the hearing in the petition filed by Goa government against its counterpart Karnataka for disobedience and contempt by diverting water from the Mhadei basin.
Goa had filed a petition under Order 39 Rule 2A of the Civil Procedure Code, for disobedience and contempt. Goa filed the petition for acts carried out by Karnataka which resulted in violation of the Tribunal’s order of injunction that no water should be diverted through the canals which were ordered to be blocked.
However, Goa has also filed a substantive contempt petition before the Supreme Court on the same grounds, and thus the Tribunal in the hearing on Thursday ordered that the matter shall stand adjourned till the Supreme Court passes its verdict.
Surprisingly, the Centre filed an application for clarification under Section 5(3) of the Inter State Water Disputes Act, beforeTribunal which was couched in a manner fully supporting the contentions of Karnataka.
When the Tribunal assembled for the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni, appearing on behalf of Goa, was still arguing a case before the Supreme Court. The hearing before the tribunal resumed only after Nadkarni arrived.
Goa was represented by Nadkarni, Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande, Adll Govt Advocate Salvador Santosh Rebello and Ashish Krishnanath Kuncoliencar.
Also present were officials of the Water Resources Department, Holding Charge of Chief Engineer Shrikant Patil, EE Gopinat Dessai, Dilip Naik and Consultant Chetan Pandit.
