Goa welcomes one-year extension for Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal

August 11, 2017 04:12 am | Updated September 13, 2017 12:35 pm IST

Goa Minister for Water Resources Vinod Palekar on Thursday said he was glad that the Union Ministry for Water Resource has extended the term of Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal by one year with effect from August 21.

Mr. Palekar said, “Government of Goa had written to the Union Ministry asking to extend the term of the tribunal. This is a collective effort by Centre and the State governments. Extension of tribunal is a signal to Karnataka which was lobbying to wind up tribunal or to block extension. Our government will go all out to win the case before the Mahadayi Tribunal. Government is committed to protect Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn.”

Meanwhile, the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), the movement spearheading the cause of Goa in its dispute with neighbouring Karnataka over waters of river Mahadayi, received a shot in the arm as Supreme Court on August 3 snubbed Karnataka government over the construction of dam works over Mahadayi basin without obtaining environmental clearance (EC) from Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

Ms. Nirmala Sawant, former Goa Minister and convenor of MBA, released documents and told press persons here on Thursday that when the intervention application filed by the MBA came up for hearing before the two-member bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, senior advocate Fali Nariman, arguing on behalf of Karnataka government, told the court that relief sought by the MBA and the Goa government before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal were similar and that both were with regard to the works of Kalsa-Bhandura project planned by the Karnataka.

On the question of status of works of Kalsa-Bhandura project as directed to be disclosed by the court on July 24, Karnataka submitted that the works permitted under the order dated April 17,2014 passed by the Tribunal had almost been completed.

The affidavit filed by Karnataka Water Resources Chief Engineer M Bangara Swamy, further assured the Court that it will not utilise or divert Mahadayi water without first obtaining necessary clearances orpermissions under the Forest Conservation Act.

To this, Justice Madan Lokur brought to the notice of Advocate Nariman that the MBA had filed two intervention applications, one in 2007 seeking to restrain Karnataka from going ahead with the construction works and another in 2009 praying to maintain status quo.

The Court further told Karnataka lawyer that the Central Empowered Committee in 2009 had revealed that works were in violation of environment and ecology and that no environmental clearance was obtained from the MoEF.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar also supported the contention made by Advocate Bhavanishankar Gadnis on behalf of MBA, who produced photographs showing environmental and ecological damage caused due to construction work of Kalsa-Bhandura project.

“Karnataka had filed original suit in 2006 while MBA filed intervention application later in 2007 and 2009. The matter has now been posted for final orders on August 14”, said Ms. Sawant.

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