PANAJI
The Supreme Court on Monday gave the government of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra an additional week to file the report of the joint inspection committee set up to ascertain the nature of the alleged violations and diversion of water of the River Mhadei as directed by Goa while also granting liberty to the officer of each state nominated on the committee to file his own observations.
When the matter came up for hearing before the Supreme Court bench by Justice D Y Chandrachud, the court was informed that a consensus eludes the committee with Karnataka refusing to include Goa’s ‘observations’ as part of the report leading to a stalemate and deadlock.
The matter has been posted for April 13.
Goa’s Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that the state will file its claims before the Supreme Court as part of its report as noted during the site inspection that was held late last month.
Officials of Goa and Karnataka were involved in a rather acrimonious inspection as directed by the Supreme Court with police from Karnataka allegedly obstructing Goa’s officials, confiscating ID cards, while officials from Karnataka were given a free hand to make Goa officials sit through needless presentations that delayed the finalisation of the report.
The joint inspection was ordered by the Supreme Court after Goa’s contempt petition alleging illegal diversion by Karnataka was taken up by the Supreme Court to verify Goa’s claims.
