PANAJI
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on November 11, the Goa Government’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging the decision of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) granting Karnataka 13.42 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water for its Kalasa-Bhandura drinking water-cum-irrigation project.
On the day of hearing, the Goa Government will have to produce on record the order of the State Chief Wildlife Warden restraining Karnataka from undertaking any construction work of its proposed project without obtaining permission under Section 29 of the Wild Life Protection Act.
Speaking to media persons, Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that State SLP will come up for hearing before the Supreme Court on November 11.
Reacting to the Karnataka government floating the tender for completing damming and diversion work of Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs into the Malaprabha basin, Pangam said “the Apex Court is on record to state that Karnataka cannot go ahead with any construction work without obtaining all the clearances including that from Goa State chief wildlife warden”.
“So unless the permissions are sought, the tender has no meaning,” he stated.
Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL), based in Khanapur, earlier this week floated the tender for completing the Kalasa project work within a year. According to the tender, the Karnataka government has taken the decision to dam and divert the waters of Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs that flow naturally into the Mhadei.
The State government had in July 2019 filed SLP challenging MWDT Award. In August 2018, the tribunal rejected Karnataka’s demand for 36.5tmc ft, and allotted it only 13.4tmc ft, including 3.9 tmc ft for drinking purposes through diversions, against its demand for 7.5tmc ft. Maharashtra has been allotted 1.33 TMC.
Karnataka and Maharashtra too have approached the Supreme Court against the Tribunal Award.
