Supreme Court admits Goa’s plea challenging Mahadayi tribunal decision: CM Pramod Sawant

A great start to the week for Goa and Goans. In a major boost to Goa’s legal battle for River Mhadei, the Supreme Court of India, today, admitted the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by State of Goa challenging the award of the Mhadei tribunal. Supreme Court now fixes the…

— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) July 10, 2023

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Goa and Karnataka have been locked in a dispute over the diversion of water from river Mhadei. The tussle assumed greater prominence in December 2022 after the Central Water Commission (CWC) approved the Karnataka government’s detailed project report (DPR) for the Kalasa-Banduri project, which seeks to divert waters of the west-flowing streams of the Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of the west-flowing river Mhadei, to the east-flowing Malaprabha river.

In February 2023, the Goa government approached the Supreme Court and sought a stay on the CWC’s approval to Karnataka to divert the river. In May 2023, the BJP state executive committee in Goa urged the government to take all steps necessary to safeguard the interests over the water of river Mhadei.

Meanwhile, at an inauguration of a bridge in Goa, Sawant Monday said there were no differences between him and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane. “The Opposition is trying to create confusion and division. There are no differences between us. We are working for the state’s development under the prime minister’s leadership,” Sawant said.