Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI; Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has made it clear that Goa will continue its legal battle over the Mhadei river dispute and will not withdraw from the case, amid fresh developments involving Karnataka’s pending litigation before the Supreme Court.
Speaking to the media, Sawant said Goa’s legal team, along with the Advocate General, is firmly pursuing the matter and expressed confidence that the state will emerge victorious in the dispute.
“We have our legal panel and Advocate General fighting for this case. We will fight this case till the end. It’s a definite win for Goa in the Mhadei case,” Sawant said.
His remarks came after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said he had urged the Karnataka government to withdraw its pending Supreme Court cases concerning the Mhadei dispute. Joshi said the move could help remove administrative hurdles and expedite clearances for the proposed Kalasa-Bhandura project.
Joshi also indicated that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had responded positively to the suggestion, and expressed the view that the issue could be addressed through cooperation between the Centre and the state government.
When asked about Joshi’s statement, Sawant maintained that the Mhadei dispute was a legal matter and declined to comment on statements made in Karnataka.
“Supreme Court case and Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal case are all legal issues. Hence, who said what in Karnataka, I have no comments on it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the state was examining its legal options, including the possibility of withdrawing its pending Supreme Court case, to facilitate progress on the Kalasa-Bhandura project.
Reddy said the matter would be discussed with Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Advocate General and senior legal experts before a final decision is taken. He added that work on the project could resume after the government finalises its position.
The developments have triggered strong opposition in Goa, with environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar warning against any move that could compromise the state’s interests in the Mhadei dispute.
Kerkar stressed the need to protect and restore the natural flow of the Mhadei river into Goa. He also opposed diversion of Mhadei waters through the Kalasa, Bhandura and Haltara projects, cautioning that such interventions could have serious ecological implications for Goa.
