PANAJI
The Supreme Court of India declined to intervene in the Mhadei dispute forcing Karnataka to withdraw its special leave petition challenging the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal decision not to award it 7 TMC of water as an interim measure.
Speaking to The Goan, Additional Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni informed that Karnataka was forced to withdraw its petition after the court refused to intervene.
Earlier, the Mhadei Disputes Tribunal had declined to grant interim relief to Karnataka which had sought that as an interim measure it be allowed to divert water from the Mhadei to the Malaprabha basin, forcing it to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision.
“The Karnataka counsel sought leave of the court to withdraw the petition with liberty to re- approach the tribunal seeking relief which was granted,” Nadkarni said.
Belgaum correspondent adds: Karnataka Minister for Water Resources M B Patil on Monday stated that the Supreme Court has allowed Karnataka to file a fresh petition before the water tribunal regarding the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal.
Speaking to The Goan, Patil said that the order was passed on Monday. The Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed by Karnataka in August 2016.
The SLP prayed for an interim order from the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal regarding sharing of the river water to tackle drinking
water crisis in north Karnataka region.
Senior counsel representing Karnataka Fali Nariman had moved the Supreme Court in August 2016 after Karnataka’s interim application for release of 7 TMC was dismissed by the Tribunal.
Patil, who refuted rumours in certain section of the media stating Karnataka had withdrawn the SLP, told The Goan that the government would discuss the issue at length and approach the Tribunal again seeking release of 7 TMC water from the Kalsa-Bhandura rivulets.
“We are happy about the Supreme Court’s directions to the Tribunal. Every effort would be made to present
the data as per court’s directives,” said M B Patil, who
was upbeat after the fresh development.
