Karnataka bullying over Mhadei river diversion, alleges Goa government

PANAJI: Goa government today accused neighbouring Karnataka of "bullying" it over diversion of Mhadei river water despite an order banning the state (Karnataka) from going ahead with it.

The Karnataka government has been paying scant respect to the orders of the Supreme Court and Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal, Goa Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said in the state Legislative Assembly here.

He was replying to a question on the floor of the House by BJP legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh, who raised apprehensions over Karnataka government's disregard to the court orders.

Karnataka has planned a dam across Mhadei river upstream which has been objected by the Goa government.

The water dispute tribunal had imposed an interim ban on the construction of this dam by Karnataka.

"They (Karnataka) have been going ahead with the work disrespecting the court orders. They have also overruled tribunal order," Mandrekar told the House.

The state government has been regularly filing its report with the water dispute tribunal, which is currently hearing the case, he said.

Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accused the erstwhile Congress-led government headed by Pratapsingh Rane of withdrawing the objections which were earlier raised by the state.

"In 2002, Goa government had raised an objection on this project which was later withdrawn in 2007 by Rane government. This gave an opportunity to Karnataka to strengthen their case. We have corrected the mistake now," he said.

Rane, however, denied withdrawing the objection during his tenure.

"I have been objecting to the project. It (objection) was not withdrawn by me," he said