MAPUSA
Goa Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar welcomed the Centre’s decision, saying it would help clear misinformation and reduce public concerns over the Kalasa-Bhandura project linked to diversion of Mhadei river.
Shirodkar said the Union government has clearly told Karnataka that no work on the project can begin until the Supreme Court delivers its final judgment.
“The Centre has made its position clear that the Karnataka government cannot go ahead with the project until the Supreme Court gives its final verdict. Forest and environmental clearances will also remain pending until then,” the
minister said.
He expressed confidence that the Centre’s stand would reassure the people of Goa that the State’s interests are being protected while the legal process continues.
Surprised by development: Karnataka’s legal counsel
BELAGAVI: Senior Supreme Court advocate and Karnataka’s legal counsel in the matter, Adv Mohan Katarki, said he was surprised by the Centre’s decision.
“It is surprising that the Union government is taking cognisance of the extraterritorial order issued by Goa, which is clearly contrary to the published award of the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT). We will soon move the Supreme Court seeking clarification,” Adv Katarki told The Goan.
Meanwhile, the Centre’s decision drew mixed reactions from activists in Karnataka, with some claiming it had acted under pressure from the Goa government.
“The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is under pressure from the BJP government in Goa, and it appears the decision has been deferred because of that pressure,” activist Ashok Chandragi said.
While the development has been welcomed in Goa, authorities and activists in Karnataka have expressed disappointment.
They said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) letter has caused concern in North Karnataka, where the long-pending Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project is expected to benefit several districts. The project has remained a contentious issue between Goa and Karnataka for many years.
