PANAJI: The Supreme Court’s judgement in the Cauvery river dispute has sent ripples in Goa over the possible implications of the judgement on the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal.
Reports have emerged that Karnataka will seek to take full advantage of the Supreme Court order in the Cauvery river case to buttress their own cause before the Mhadei River Tribunal.
Speaking to The Goan, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar has said that Goa will have to remain alert to the new possibilities the recent Supreme Court judgement has thrown up.
“Supreme Court has decided that Karnataka will get a greater share of the waters of the Cauvery river especially for the drinking water needs of Bangalore city. The judgement also makes several observations on the rights that the respective states have over rivers. Karnataka will, in all likelihood lean on this judgement and seek to apply it in the Mhadei case,” Kerkar said.
Karnataka has consistently argued that it needs the water for the drinking water needs of Hubli and Dharwad towns and that Goa will not be affected in any way if 7.5 TMC of water is diverted from the Mhadei river basin.
