BELAGAVI/BICHOLIM
With the Joint Inspection Committee (JIC) failing to arrive at a consensus on Friday, the legal tussle between Karnataka and Goa over the Mhadei water diversion issue is expected to take a new turn, as they along with Maharashtra are expected to file separate reports in the Supreme Court during a hearing of the issue on April 4.
According to sources, the three-member JIC on Friday visited the controversial Kalsa site near Kankumbi, but no consensus was arrived during the marathon heated discussion that followed the visit.
Sources said the JIC comprising Karnataka Executive Engineer from Navilteerth Dam Krishnojirao, Goa's WRD Assistant Executive Engineer M K Prasad and Maharashtra’s WRD Senior Engineer Vijaykumar Thorat reportedly visited the site at around 11.30 am and later met at the Kankumbi Inspection Bungalow.
Sources said Prasad reportedly did not endorse the report which was prepared by Karnataka's Water Resources Department on the ground situation and left the meeting without any consensus.
“We have plugged the point as per the Tribunal order and there is no water flow occurring as the 3 feet concrete retainer wall has been erected to plug the flow. Moreover, there is about 4 feet silt near the wall indicating there is no flow towards Malaprabha,” said a source from the Karnataka WRD team.
“The Supreme Court had ordered only the inspection of the site and submit a report. However, the Goan counterpart seems not to be adhering to the SC’s directives and going beyond it,” the source said.
When contacted, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, who has been closely monitoring the water dispute, accused Karnataka of playing games with Goa since 2006.
“They have diverted the natural flow of Kalsa and this is unacceptable,” said Kerkar.
The Supreme Court had ordered the formation of a three-member JIC comprising one member each from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the three stakeholders in the Mhadei project, to inspect the site and to submit a report.
