Goa to approach Supreme Court against Karnataka on Mhadei waters

Panaji, July 27 (UNI) In a bid to preserve environment and marine ecology, the Goa government can move the Supreme Court to stall Karnataka from diverting Mhadei river waters into Malaprabha basin for its Rs 100 crore Khalsa project.

Replying to a discussion on budgetary demands for water resources in the state Legislative Assembly last evening, water resources minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues sought cooperation of the House to oppose Karnataka's move tooth and nail.

The state government, he said, had alredy urged the Centre to constitute a water dispute tribunal to sort out the contentious issue at the earliest, even as Katnataka had decided to go ahead with its Khalsa project on or before October 2 this year.

The project envisages utilisation of water from Khalsa rivulet, a tributary of Mhadei which is known as river Mandovi in Goa.

If necessary, Goa would implead the Centre in its petition to the Supreme Court on the issue, in case the Centre fails to constitute the tribunal before neighbouring state went ahead with its project, the minister said.

Referring to the Goa-Maharashtra interstate Tilari Irrigation project, Mr.Rodrigues said it envisaged irrigation of about 14,000 hectares besides meeting drinking water needs in Dhjargalim constituency. The work on the project was on the right track, he added.

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