PANAJI
The Supreme Court of India has ordered a joint inspection of the alleged diversion of the waters of the River Mhadei that Karnataka has undertaken by a team that will include officers of the Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra governments.
The court has asked for a report of the inspection within four weeks.
The contempt petition filed by the Goa Government came before SC Bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice M R Shah. Goa’s counsel senior Advocate Narsimha told the court that Karnataka had already breached the banks of the existing stream leading to the automatic diversion of the waters towards Karnataka.
Adv Narsimha told the Supreme Court that Karnataka had given an undertaking to the Tribunal as well as the Supreme Court that there would be no automatic diversion of the water and orders to that effect were issued by the Tribunal.
Goa’s advocate also told the Supreme Court that when a group of officers from Goa visited the site of the project, they found that diversion of the waters had begun.
However, the Karnataka counsel denied that they were diverting water as alleged by Goa saying that all orders by the Tribunal were being respected.
The Supreme Court bench then first suggested that an independent team be sent to inspect, but later agreed that a joint committee of officers be formed.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the development.
“In a contempt petition filed by the Goa government against Karnataka on the issue of diversion of water and breach of orders of Mhadei Tribunal and the SC, the apex court today directed Joint Inspection Committee consisting officers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to inspect Kalsa project and submit a report within four weeks,” Sawant tweeted.
The matter has been posted for April.
