Team led by Goa speaker visits Kalasa-Banduri project site

Close on the heels of Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar's controversial visit to the site of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, a delegation comprising Goa Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo came on a surprise visit to the site at Kanakumbi in Khanapur, Belagavi district on Sunday.

Sawant and Lobo, who are holding constitutional posts, are heading the delegation in violation of protocol norms. The speaker and the deputy speaker are accompanied by legislators Prasad Gaonkar and Ronald Lawrence.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation chairman Nilesh Cabral is also among the visiting team that comprised nearly 45 people, including mediapersons.

Neither the Karnataka government, the Belagavi district administration nor the police were kept informed about the visit.

On receiving information about the visit, Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Reddy rushed to the spot and arranged for bandobast. Till afternoon, the visiting team inspected the canal works of the project that have been halted following directions from the Mahadayi Tribunal.

Speaking to mediapersons, Lobo accused Karnataka of violating the tribunal directions and pursuing the project. Karnataka has built a 10-metre canal to divert the water, which otherwise would flow towards Goa, he said.