Mahadayi row: Goa minister visits Kalasa-Banduri project site

K'taka violating canal work violating SC order, says Palyekar

A team headed by Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar on Saturday inspected the Kalasa-Banduri project site at Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk of the district on Saturday.

On Friday, the Goa government had alleged that Karnataka, disrespecting a Supreme Court order, had resumed work on a canal across a tributary of the River Mahadayi at Kankumbi.

Speaking to reporters after the spot inspection, Palyekar accused the Karnataka government of carrying out canal work despite the Supreme Court staying development works. The Karnataka government's act amounts to contempt of court. The issue would be brought to the notice of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, which alone can resolve the row, he said.

There were media reports of Karanataka government pursuing works, which forced me to rush to the spot, the Goa minister said. Despite objections, the Karnataka has been pursuing constrcution works at the project site, he alleged.  On Friday, the Goa government had claimed that it had photographs to prove that Karnataka had violated court orders.

"River Mahadayi belongs to Goa and if Karnataka farmers protest, should we do injustice to the people of Goa," Palyekar questioned.

He said Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's letter to Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa on Goa's willingness to share water for drinking needs, was not a judicial order and did not carry any significance. Goa Chief Engineer Sandeep Nadkarni was present during the spot inspection.

Parrikar, who had directed state Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma on Friday night to write a letter to the Karnataka government asking it to stop work, had on Wednesday said the ongoing river water sharing dispute would be fought before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.