PANAJI
Goa will press the Mahadayi PRAWAH Authority to immediately conduct a joint inspection with the State's Mhadei team into the alleged diversion of river water by Karnataka, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday.
Addressing the media after a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat, Sawant said the issue had been discussed with officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD), Advocate General Devidas Pangam and the State's legal team.
The Chief Minister also said that Goa would formally request the PRAWAH Authority to carry out the inspection at the earliest. The State wants the exercise to be undertaken jointly with Goa's technical team to ascertain the facts on the ground.
Sawant said that if the Authority failed to act promptly, the State would approach the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and seek its intervention to ensure the inspection is conducted without delay.
"We want an urgent inspection. If the Authority does not respond, we will take up the matter with the Jal Shakti Ministry," Sawant said.
The Chief Minister added that the PRAWAH Authority had also been given the option of meeting him separately to discuss the matter and address Goa's concerns regarding the inter-State water dispute.
In another significant development, the State's legal team has been directed to move an interlocutory application (IA) before the Supreme Court seeking an expeditious hearing of the long-pending case challenging the tribunal's award.
The move comes amid renewed concerns in Goa over alleged diversion of water by Karnataka clandestinely and demands for stronger legal and administrative action.
Thursday's meeting was convened a day after Sawant had assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government would hold consultations with officials and legal experts on the issue.
The assurance came during a discussion on a calling attention motion moved by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, who had sought clarity on the government's strategy in protecting Goa's interests in the contentious Mhadei water dispute which is one of the most politically sensitive and environmentally significant issue facing the State.
