Tribunal got it wholly wrong, says state government

The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT), which rejected Karnataka’s application seeking diversion of 7.56 tmc feet of water, has got it wholly wrong, Mohan Katarki, advocate representing the state, said here on Wednesday.

“Instead of focussing on the admitted wastage of the almost entire water of 199.6 tmcft by Goa, estimated by the Central Water Commission in 2001 and 2003, the MWDT has minutely gone into the details of the proposed lift scheme and deficiency in Malaprabha basin,” he said in a statement.

“Considering the techno-economic feasibility of the project report is the function of the Central Water Commission and not the Tribunal constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes act of 1956,” he said.

Even on the clearances under the central laws like Environment Act of 1986, the MWDT has totally misconceived the legal position. Expecting Karnataka to obtain clearances before applying in the Tribunal for allocation of water is akin to putting the cart before the horse,” he said.

The legal team will formulate its opinion on the advisability of the future course of action soon, he added.

Expressing disappointment over the Tribunal order, BJP MP Pralhad Joshi said that the state government should appeal in the Supreme Court against the Tribunal order. He urged the state government to take all parties into confidence before taking any further decision.