BELAGAVI
The Joint Inspection Committee (JIC) from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra on Friday held a marathon meeting at Kankumbi on various issues related to the Kalsa project, even as the Karnataka police defended its move to bar entry to media, activists during the inspection.
“We are confident that no water was diverted via Kalsa rivulet after the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal had ordered to raise a retainer wall to check the flow of water to Mhadei,” said a senior official, expressing confidence that contempt plea filed by Goa would not stand in the Supreme Court.
As per the Supreme Court’s order, the JIC is expected to submit its report soon as the next hearing is fixed on April 4.
According to sources, the three members -- Krishnojirao (Executive Engineer from Navilteerth Dam, Karnataka), MK Prasad (Assistant Executive Engineer of WRD, Goa) and Vijaykumar Thorat (Senior Engineer from Maharashtra WRD) -- maintained strict confidentiality while visiting the site of Kalsa water diversion.
Karnataka authorities had made stringent security arrangements at the project site and did not allow anybody, including the media, activists or other leaders, when the JIC entered the project site.
While a section of media and activists from Goa objected to their entry being barred at the project site when the JIC members arrived there, a police official claimed that the police were following the directions of the JIC.
“We have only followed the directions of the JIC not to allow media or activists during the inspection at the Kalsa water diversion site,” said the senior police official.
