PANAJI
In a bid to further strengthen its side in the Mhadei river diversion case, the Goa government is likely to put across before the Supreme Court the crucial findings of the 14-member Study Group regarding Karnataka’s modified Detailed Project Report (DPR) that was approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC) in December 2022.
The study group, under WRD Chief Engineer, constituted to study the revised DPRs for the Kalasa-Bhandura Nala diversion scheme, submitted its report in November last year. It said that CWC’s technical approval has ignored critical issues like the impact on the environment, ecology, and human life due to the proposed diversion scheme.
The scheme, which speaks about diverting water from tributaries of Mhadei to augment the multi-purpose Malaprabha Reservoir for Drinking Water Purpose, is factually misleading, legally mischievous, and has no merit, the study revealed.
Speaking to The Goan, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that the findings of the study group will further strengthen Goa’s case before the Supreme Court. “We will have to amend the petition or file an additional affidavit to incorporate the findings. These findings are by eminent people from the field of the environment,” he said.
Shirodkar said that the Apex Court would be informed about the same when the matter comes up for hearing.
The study group pointed out that while drafting modified DPRs, Karnataka failed to undertake fresh planning and preparation of a holistic Master plan for the diversion of Mhadei river water by identifying priorities, as directed by the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT).
It also said that appraising the DPRs of Karnataka, for non-irrigation purposes by CWC, is in total contravention of pertinent observations of MWDT.
