Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Goa Government’s special leave petition (SLP), which challenges the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal’s (MWDT) decision to grant Karnataka 13.42 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water for its Kalasa-Bhandura drinking water-cum-irrigation project, is likely to be heard by the Supreme Court on November 11.
The Goa Government would be required to present the State Chief Wildlife Warden’s decision prohibiting Karnataka from beginning any construction activity on its proposed project without first seeking approval under Section 29 of the Wild Life Protection Act on the day of the hearing.
In a statement to the media, Attorney General Devidas Pangam stated that the State SLP hearing before the Supreme Court will take place on November 11.
Pangam responded to the Karnataka government’s announcement of the opening of a tender for the damming and diversion of the Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs into the Malaprabha basin, stating that “the Apex Court is on record to state that Karnataka cannot go ahead with any construction work without obtaining all the clearances, including that from Goa State chief wildlife warden.”
Therefore, he explained, “the tender has no meaning unless the permissions are sought.”
This Monday, the Khanapur-based Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) published a tender to complete the Kalasa project’s work in a year. The Karnataka government has decided to dam and redirect the waters of the Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs that naturally flow into the Mhadei, according to the tender.
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