Goa to submit ‘violation report’ of Karnataka work on Mhadei River
VISHANT VAZE, BICHOLIM | 31 January 2016 23:43 IST
Goa will submit a detailed report to the tribunal of the ongoing canal work of Karnataka to divert water of Mhadei River in violation of the court directives.
A team of Goa government’s water resources department visited the Kalsa canal site today, to realise that the construction work is going on war footing.
The team led by WRD engineer Shrikant Patil inspected the site and also gathered photographic evidence of the round-the-clock work carried out by Karnataka Niravari Nigum at the inspection bungalow as well as near Mauli temple.
The Nigam has deployed all kind of heavy machinery and trucks to carry out the canal construction as well as filling work.
Sources in the Nigam told goanews.com that Karnataka wants to complete the canal work by May end, before the monsoon season starts.
The southern state is planning to justify its work, claiming that it wants to collect the rain water in the canal that would flow in the River Malprabha, said the sources.
Goa has opposed before the Mhadei water dispute tribunal construction of the canals at Kalsa and Bandura to divert water of River Mhadei to River Malprabha.
The hearing is scheduled on 23 February, where Goa plans to submit the report of the ongoing construction in violation of the tribunal orders.
THE BACKGRUND
Karnataka presently plans to divert only 7.5 TMC water via Kalsa canal, but has more plans to divert rest of the water that may dry up the whole river Mandovi, the lifeline of Goa.
Mhadei originates in Karnataka, but flows more in Goa and is called river Mandovi once it crosses Sattari.
The life of seven talukas - Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Dharbandora, part of Sanguem, Bardez and Tiswadi is fully dependent on this river.
Goa covers 1580 sq kms of the catchment area of Mhadei basin while Karnataka covers only 375 sq kms.
It also includes 76 sq kms of catchment area in Maharashtra.
Karnataka plans to construct at least seven dams and three hydroelectric projects, by diverting the water to river Malprabha.
