Panaji (Goa) Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) members today met State Water Resource Minister Vinod Palyenkar demanding that Government should not hold any talks with Karnataka at this stage on Mhadei river water diversion issue.

MBA president Nirmala Sawant and Secretary Rajendra Kerkar also sought clarity on the government stand on the matter.

 “We have told the Minister that any talks with Karnataka, be it even on sharing of water for drinking purpose, can have negative impact on the case before Tribunal. Goa case is strong before tribunal,” Kerkar said.

He said that any discussion with Karnataka or Maharashtra can take place once tribunal passes its judgment in August, when the MWDT term is set to expire.

The final hearing before the Tribunal will resume from February 6.

Further, the MBA has demanded that government should finalize the State Water Policy latest by January 26 by incorporating the suggestions made by them. State Government had in June 2016 released the draft policy, which is yet to be finalized.