PM to decide on Mhadei water dispute in week's time

Panaji, Nov 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane today he would take ''apropriate action within a week'' on the disputed issue of Karnataka diverting water from inter-state Mhadei water basin.

He was responding to a representation given by Mr Rane in New Delhi, objecting to construction of Kalsa-Bandura project on Mhadei basin, which the Chief Minister said would disturb the ecology of Goa.

Mr Rane, who called on the Prime Minister, also pleaded for constuting an interstate water tribunal for resolving the contentious issue at the earliest. He told Mr Singh he would lead an all-party delegation from Goa in this regard shortly.

Meanwhile, Union Environment Ministry secretary Dr P Ghosh told Goa's Chief Secretary J P Singh that the Centre had not given any sanction to Karnataka to go ahead with the disputed project.

Mr Singh also asked Water Resources Ministry Secretary Manoharan to resolve the issue at the earliest, besides asking Karnataka to halt the work on the project.

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