PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said Goa will continue its legal battle over the Mhadei river dispute and will not withdraw from the case, amid fresh developments surrounding Karnataka’s pending litigation before the Supreme Court.
Speaking to the media, Sawant said Goa’s legal team, along with the Advocate General, was pursuing the matter and expressed confidence in the state’s case.
“We have our legal panel and Advocate General fighting for this case. We will fight this case till the end. It’s a definite win for Goa in the Mhadei case,” Sawant said.
His remarks came after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said he had urged the Karnataka government to withdraw its pending Supreme Court cases related to the Mhadei dispute. According to Joshi, such a move could help clear legal and administrative hurdles for the proposed Kalasa-Bhandura project.
Joshi also said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had responded positively to the suggestion and indicated that the issue could be addressed through cooperation between the Centre and the state government.
Asked about the developments in Karnataka, Sawant said the Mhadei dispute was a legal matter and declined to comment on statements made by leaders in the neighbouring state.
“Supreme Court case and Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal case are all legal issues. Hence, who said what in Karnataka, I have no comments on it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the state was examining its legal options, including the possibility of withdrawing its pending Supreme Court case to facilitate progress on the Kalasa-Bhandura project.
Reddy said the matter would be discussed with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Advocate General and senior legal experts before any final decision is taken.
The latest developments have also drawn opposition from environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, who warned against any move that could compromise Goa’s interests in the Mhadei dispute.
Kerkar stressed the importance of protecting the natural flow of the Mhadei into Goa and opposed diversion of its waters through the proposed Kalasa, Bhandura and Haltara projects, citing potential ecological consequences for the state.
The Mhadei dispute remains a politically and environmentally sensitive issue in Goa, with the state continuing to rely on legal proceedings to protect its claims over the river’s waters.
