PANAJI
Goa government has appealed to the Centre seeking possession of 12 islands near Karwar.
Goa has recently written to the Union Home Ministry regarding the matter and the letter has also been forwarded to the Karnataka government.
The state has staked claim over Anjidiva, Kurmagada, Devgad, Shimsigudda, Sese Gunji, Janigudda, Madali Gadda and other islands.
These islands are within 12 to 15 nautical miles off the Karnataka coast and fall legally within the limits of the state. But surprisingly, no effort has been made to document them within the state’s boundary.
Karwar Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan has sent the details pertaining to the islands by marking their latitude and longitude.
Following Goa’s action, Karnataka too has identified 57 islands within the Uttar Kannada district’s limits and staked claim over them.
After the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in 1961, the islands that were under its jurisdiction were not transferred to Karnataka, and have remained still as part of Goa. Taking advantage of the anomaly, the neighbouring state is now demanding that the islands be handed over to it immediately.
