MAPUSA
Imploring the State government to follow up the contempt petition in the Supreme Court, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Wednesday said the infrastructure constructed by Karnataka government to divert water from the Mhadei River should be demolished and allowed to flow in Goa.
He said the Karnataka government has fully diverted the water when the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal had clearly stated it can only use the water for drinking purpose.
“Karnataka government can take water only for drinking. They should put a pipe, fix a pump and take the water. No diversion is allowed as they have done. The infra built to divert water has to be demolished and the water has to come straight to Goa,” Lobo said.
The Opposition in the State had come down heavily on the BJP-led government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for failing to protect the interest of Goa over the diversion of Mhadei River.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi rubbed it in further stating that he was not aware on what basis the Goa government had filed a contempt petition and Karnataka government would continue with its work on the Mhadei project.
Lobo said the State government had done the right thing by filing a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the diversion of water at the behest of the Karnataka government.
“The SC will definitely take cognisance of the contempt plea and appoint a committee. The committee will then give feedback to the top court. In the meantime, we expect that SC will give stay on work at the Mhadei basin carried out by Karnataka government,” he said.
“The SC will give judgment in favour of Goa. We will win the battle in the Apex Court,” he added.
He also slammed the opposition for politicising the Mhadei water diversion issue.
“Mhadei is our mother. No one should play politics on Mhadei. Everyone’s view on Mhadei should be one,” Lobo said.
