MAPUSA
Contrary to the statements of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, an adamant Water Resources Minister Vinod Paliencar on Thursday said he remained firm on his stand on the Mhadei river issue not to release water to neighbouring Karnataka state.
"I have made my stand very clear on Mhadei river water. Once we take a stand on an issue we do not change it," Paliencar said.
Paliencar was responding to media queries on Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar's statement that Karnataka would eventually get a share of the Mhadei water.
On Wednesday, while addressing the press Parrikar had said that whoever thought water cannot be taken by Karnataka was living in a fool's paradise.
Referring the Mhadei water issue as a sensitive one, Paliencar said the stand of Goa Forward Party was clear and there was no going back on it.
"I wouldn't like to drag the issue further. I have made my stand very clear against releasing Mhadei water to Karnataka," the water resources minister said when asked to comment on the chief minister's statement.
A week back, the water resources minister had told the media that the State will not compromise with Karnataka on Mhadei water issue.
"We can never compromise on this issue. Our people hardly get sufficient water. How can we give them water? It's just not possible," Paliencar had said.
The minister was also on record stating that Goa will not give even a single drop of Mhadei river water to Karnataka.
"It is like our mother. Every drop of this river is precious for us. We will not give even a single drop of water to Karnataka," Paliencar had said.
Karnataka and Goa are at loggerheads on the issue of sharing inter-state Mhadei river water.
