Karnataka assurance not to divert Mhadei water is our victory: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 17 October 2012 23:11 IST
Karnataka government has assured the Mhadei water tribunal that it would not divert waters of Mhadei to Malprabha region.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has termed it as a victory of ‘his’ government.
The tribunal has finally started functioning and its first hearing was held on Tuesday.
Goa government had demanded a tribunal on the issue as Karnataka had started digging a canal to divert Mhadei water to the basin of Malprabha.
Mhadei river has a length of 77 kms, 29 kms in Karnataka and 52 kms in Goa.
It originates from a cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka.
The issue was lingering as the Mhadei water tribunal was not given a sitting space for the last two and a half years.
Meanwhile, a recent visit made to Karnataka by Goa officials had indicated that Karnataka had completed almost 80 per cent of the work to dig a canal from Mhadei to Malprabha basin.
In its first hearing, however, Karnataka government has reportedly assured the tribunal that it would not divert the Mhadei water.
Parrikar today termed it as a victory for his government.
He even blamed his predecessors for not making a breakthrough in the issue.
Incidentally, both Goa and Karnataka governments are ruled by the BJP today.
Let us not be complacent on the assurances of Karnataka that they will not divert the water of Mhadei.
Since they have completed almost 80% of the canal to divert the water, there is possibility that they may change their stance all of a sudden
Constant watch needs to be kept to see that Karnataka is serious on their assurance.