The main Opposition Congress in Goa has demanded that its State government approach the Supreme Court against the award of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.
It questioned the claim of the BJP-led government in the State that the award was a “victory for Goa”. It accused the State government of failure to protect the interests of Goa over the dispute.
“We demand that the State government challenge the award of the tribunal before the Supreme Court without delay,” Congress spokesperson Yatish Naik said at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Panaji.
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On Tuesday, the tribunal, which was hearing a dispute between Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra over sharing of water from the Mahadayi river had allotted 13.42 tmcft from the Mahadayi to Karnataka, as against 36.55 tmcft demanded by Karnataka.
Civil society groups such as the Mahadayi Bachav Abhiyan, which fought the battle in the courts as well as outside, have also questioned the stand of the government.
The tribunal, in its award, had castigated the Goa government for lack of preparedness, especially with respect to submission of scientific documentation to back its contention to reject Karnataka’s demand for diversion of water.
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