As the water sharing between Goa and Karnataka from the river Mahadayi has become a major election issue in the poll-bound Karnataka, a group of 40 people led by Goa Speaker Pramod Sawant and Deputy Speaker Michael lobo, two MlAs,
former MlAs and their supporters visited Kanakumbi watershed area on Sunday without following the protocol of informing the State Government.
They had visited Kalasa-Banduri watershed area and accused Karnataka of continuing the work on these areas. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru said “a team led by Goa Speaker and Deputy Speaker has visited Kanakumbi watershed area in Karnataka on Sunday. I have instructed the officials to provide facilities and not to stop them by visiting the site. But they have not informed us about their visit here. We are not continuing any work on the watershed in violation.”
However, Karnataka Water Resource Minister MB Patil accused Goa team of disregarding protocol and visiting the Kanakumbi Mahadayi watershed areas on the site.
“There is no necessity to sneak in. They could have informed our Government of the visit as per protocol. We would have provided them adequate security,” Patil said.
The Minister said that secrecy was unnecessary because the Karnataka Government is not carrying out any illegal work in the area, especially those related to disputes pending before the court.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that it was okay for Goa Ministers to visit Kanakumbi Mahadayi watersheds because we don’t want Goa to later claim that we denied them a visit,” Patil said. “While we will continue to remain transparent. The Goa Government is trying to fool people,” he added.
last week a team of officials from Goa and Goa Irrigation Minister Vinoda Paliencar visited the place near Kanakumbi village in Khanapur in Karnataka . Vinod Paliencar had said that despite a stay order, Karnataka was carrying out civil work which would be brought to the notice of the Mahadayi River Water Sharing Tribunal. The Goa Government will also file a contempt of court petition against Karnataka in the Supreme Court, he had said.
The Tribunal is expected to hold a series of hearing from February 6 .