We will strongly present our side in SC, says CM Sawant
Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Supreme Court has directed Goa Government to produce the order of the State Chief Wildlife Warden that has restricted Karnataka from going ahead with any construction activities along the Mhadei River without its permission under Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice MM Sundresh today admitted the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Goa government to restrain Karnataka from going ahead with the Kalasa-bhandura drinking water project by diverting waters of River Mhadei.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that the SLP was admitted and that the hearing will commence in November last week.
Pangam said that the Court has directed State to produce the order issued by the CWW of the Goa Forest department.
He said that CWW in March had issued an order directing Karnataka not to go ahead with any construction work without permission under Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Goa Forest Department had issued a show cause notice to Karnataka Government over its proposed construction of drinking water project, thereby diverting or stopping or reducing the flow of Kalasa-Bhandura tributaries-one of the prime source of water.
State Chief Wildlife Warden Saurabh Kumar, in a notice issued under Wildlife Protection Act 1972, had directed the Managing Director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, Bengaluru, to stop any activity of diverting/stopping/reducing the flow of the Kalasa Rivulet (nallah) and Bandura Rivulet (nallah) including the construction of any dam, bandhara, canal or any other structure, project etc. which can be used for such diversion of flow of water into Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claimed that given that the Mhadei PRAWAH Authority has been formed, the government of India can’t give permission to Karnataka to go ahead with the Mhadei diversion project.
“We will present our side very strongly. We have full faith in the Supreme Court as well as the Mhadei PRAWAH set up by the Govt of India. Whatsoever Karnataka says, nothing will happen,” Sawant asserted.
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