Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Ahead of the Mhadei-PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony) meeting in Bengaluru on April 22, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to obstructing Karnataka’s Kalasa-Bhandura water project. Speaking to the media on Friday, Sawant stated that the Goa government had already submitted a comprehensive site inspection report to the Supreme Court, highlighting several violations by Karnataka in the implementation of the project.
“We will continue to obstruct the works that Karnataka intends to take up,” Sawant asserted, emphasizing that Goa’s opposition remains steadfast in protecting its interests regarding the Mhadei River water dispute.
The inspection report submitted to the Supreme Court is part of the ongoing efforts by the Goa government to address concerns over Karnataka’s project, which seeks to divert water from the Mhadei River for its Kalasa-Bhandura scheme. The Supreme Court was initially expected to hear the case in January, but the matter has yet to come up for hearing.
The upcoming PRAWAH meeting in Bengaluru will focus on Goa’s proposal for a joint site inspection of the Kalasa Nala project. This will be the fourth PRAWAH meeting, and it comes after a delay in the previous meeting that was originally scheduled for March 4 in Mumbai but was postponed.
The third PRAWAH meeting, held in Goa on October 25, 2024, had led to a decision to approach the Central government for a legal opinion regarding Goa’s request for a joint inspection of the Kalasa-Bhandura project.
The Mhadei water dispute between Goa and Karnataka remains a contentious issue, with both states claiming rights over the river water. The PRAWAH committee, under Chairman Navin Kumar, plays a crucial role in addressing the concerns of both parties and seeking a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
