the goan I network
PANAJI
Senior Counsel Atmaram N S Nadkarni on Tuesday said Goa has more than made out a case to show how there would be irreparable damage and impact on the state and its inhabitants, if the proposed diversion and projects of the upper riparian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra are allowed.
Nadkarni, appearing for Goa, put forth his arguments in a rejoinder to the reply submissions made by Karnataka and Maharashtra governments, as the final arguments before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal continued on Tuesday.
Nadkarni pointed that Karnataka’s contention in as much as no case is made out by Goa unless a case of prejudice is made out, was a misconceived and illogical contention.
Nadkarni referred to provisions of the interstate water dispute Act, more particularly Sections 3, 4 and 5, the complaint letter of Goa and evidence of Goa’s witnesses to amply demonstrate that Goa has more than made out a case to show how there would be irreparable damage and impact on the state of Goa and its inhabitants, if the proposed diversion and projects of the upper riparian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra are allowed to go
ahead.
He pointed out to the tribunal that in view of letters and correspondence written by the then union water resources minister, the entire and whole dispute is referred to the Tribunal for adjudication and therefore, the contention of Karnataka was devoid of any merit.
Nadkarni relied on several international judgments and so also case laws delivered by the Supreme Court to buttress his arguments.
He also relied on the recent judgment of the Supreme Court passed in the Cauvery dispute to show that Karnataka’s contention as regards making out a case of prejudice and transbasin diversion were both rejected by the Supreme Court.
