PANAJI: Karnataka has given an undertaking to the Mhadei Water Tribunal that it would not undertake any further work and till the matter is decided by the Tribunal, will not divert any water from Mhadei to Malaprabha.
According to sources, the Mhadei matter was listed for final hearing on Tuesday, while the interim application filed by Goa for injunction against Karnataka as well as for contempt and striking off of pleadings was posted for hearing before the tribunal.
Water Resources Minister Vinod Paliencar, who has taken keen interest in the matter, was also present for the hearing at the Mhadei Water Tribunal at New Delhi.
On Monday evening, Karnataka had filed a reply to the interim application filed by Goa and fearing the wrath of the Tribunal for violating its orders, gave a categorical undertaking that they would not undertake any further work and till the matter is decided by the Tribunal, would not divert any water from Mhadei to Malaprabha.
In its reply, Karnataka gave a categorical undertaking to abide by previous orders passed by the tribunal. The interim application is now posted for hearing on February 13.
The State of Goa led by Senior Advocate Atmaram N S Nadkarni was ready to commence its arguments, however the senior counsel appearing for Karnataka stated that the time of the tribunal up to August may not be sufficient and it should be extended and that, the parties should make a joint effort to extend the time.
The tribunal was not ready to buy this argument, but however Ashok Dessai and Indira Jai Singh, senior counsels appearing for Karnataka, persistently pleaded for extension of time of the tribunal.
Nadkarni informed the tribunal that Goa was ready to go ahead with the matter and conclude their arguments, but due to insistence by Karnataka and after a joint request of parties, the matter is now posted on Thursday,
“Indeed, the whole ploy of Karnataka is to place the matter for hearing after May when elections in Karnataka are due and indeed, this is a clear cut indication that Karnataka is in a very weak position before the tribunal,” said a source.
Representing the State of Goa legal team along with Atmaram NS Nadkarni, was Dattaprasad Lawande, Advocate General, Salvador Santosh Rebello, Nikita Nadkarni, Amogh V. Prabhudessai, Akshaya Joglekar, Aurobindo Gomes Perreira, Ashish Kuncoliencar, Ashvek Gosavi, Mayuri Chawla, along with engineers of the Water Resources Department Premanand Kamat, Adll CE, S D Patil, SE, consultant Chetan Pandit and other officials.
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BATTLE FOR
MHADEI
* Karnataka gave a categorical undertaking that it would not undertake any further work and till the matter is decided by the Tribunal, would not divert any water from Mhadei to Malaprabha.
* The neighbouring State also gave an undertaking to abide by the previous orders passed by the tribunal. The interim application is now posted for hearing on February 13
