Porvorim (Goa): The Karnataka government has outrightly denied Goa’s contention that it was carrying out construction activity on the Kalsa-Bandura canal project in violation of the Supreme Court order.
In a letter addressed to Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma, the counterpart has claimed that the state was instead clearing debris from the site near Kankumbi village.
“Karnataka CS has written to Goa CS denying any work at the Kalsa-Bandura project site. He denies that Karnataka violated SC order and the work which Goa claims was actually the removal of debris,” Sharma told a section of the local media.
The written communiqué comes two days after Goa government filed an interlocuary application before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal over violation of the orders of the Supreme Court.
Goa had witnessed gross violation by its neighbouring state when heavy earthmoving machinery was found at work on the canal. Irrigation Minister Vinod Paliencar along with a team of water resources officials had visited the site for inspection following media reports about the violation and collected evidence to submit before the Tribunal. He claimed that the work has already diverted Mhadei water towards Malaprabha basin, which was totally in contempt of the ongoing proceedings. The work, he claimed, was stopped after a warning that Goa government will not tolerate the infringement.
The 103-page interlocutory application before the Tribunal was submitted with enough evidence of the construction by Karnataka at the Kalsa-Bhandura canal site. The WRD also constituted a four-member team of engineers to keep a close vigil on the disputed site.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s letter to Karnataka BJP Chief B S Yeddyurapa agreeing to hold a discussion on the water sharing has created a stir with locals demanding that Goa should fall prey to its neighbouring state’s plea that it requires water for drought places in Dharwad and Hubli. The environmentalists have argued that Karnataka instead needs water for their industries and no drinking purpose, and the state has many rivers to divert within their own districts.
Team TNV
