PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that the study undertaken by the National Institute of Oceanography on Mhadei river diversion, which claims less of an impact on Goa, has nothing to do with the State government.
He also maintained that the report findings will not affect Goa's plea in the Supreme Court.
Sawant has clarified that the report was neither commissioned by the Goa government nor the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT).
“There is no connection between the report and the case. Our fight will continue,” he said, calling the report an independent study.
The report, “The water budget of the Mahadayi river and its implications for the inter-state dispute”, jointly prepared by scientists from NIO and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, claims that Karnataka’s Kalasa diversion plan may have limited impact on Goa overall, but could significantly affect the northern part of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
First reported by The Goan on May 13, the study has sparked protests across the state. On Thursday, members of the Mhadei Movement and citizens gathered outside the NIO campus at Dona Paula, demanding accountability from the institute.
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), leading the protests, accused NIO of producing a report that favours Karnataka, which is continuing with dam construction on the river despite the case being under Supreme Court review.
Goa is in dispute with Karnataka over the Mhadei river diversion, as the neighbouring State intends to divert the river water. Both the States have filed a plea before the SC challenging the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal 2018 award.
