SC refuse to grant status-quo to divert water of Mahadayi river

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court has refused to grant status-quo in relation to the project undertaken by Karnataka to divert the water of Mahadayi river.

The water of the river is the bone of contention between state of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Goa has filed a suit in the Supreme Court seeking permanent injunction against the project started by Karnataka, which is likely to reduce the flow of water to Goa.

According to Goa, Mahadayi river is the only source of water for a large segment of the population, who are dependent on it for the supply of water and the project undertaken by Karnataka is solely aimed at diverting the flow of water.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendaran directed the Centre on Monday to file an additional affidavit stating therein what steps were being taken by it to resolve the issue.

The affidavit has to be filed within four weeks.

Meanwhile, the Centre in its counter-affidavit has blamed Goa for the delay in resolving the issue. Goa is demanding setting up of a water river Tribunal under the interstate Water Dispute Act, 1956.

In a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the three states, Karnataka has demanded that it be permitteed to divert 7.56 TMC of water outside Mandovi basin to meet the acute drinking water problem of Hubli-Dharwad region of Karnataka but Goa did not agree to the implementation of Kalasa-Banduri Nala scheme for diversion of water.

The Centre has kept in abeyance its decision regarding the setting up of a water tribunal as it has no power under the Act to issue directions to any state for distribution of water among states.

UNI AKS/SC SAM HT2200