PANAJI: The Goa government on Tuesday filed an application for interim relief restraining Karnataka from carrying out any activity or construction over its Kalsa-Bhanduri project on Mhadei river.
“Supreme Court has agreed to take up the matter for hearing on March 2, 2020. Senior Adv Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before the bench presided over by Justice D Y Chandrachud for urgent hearing,” the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also tweeted, "State of Goa today (Tuesday) filed an application for interim relief restraining Karnataka from carrying on any activity/construction over it's project on Mhadei river. Supreme Court has agreed to take up the matter for hearing on 2nd March 2020." The application was interim stay was necessitated after Supreme Court on February 20 asked the Government of India to notify the Inter-State Mhadei water Disputes Tribunal verdict.
Goa had feared that the notification would allow neighbouring Karnataka to take up construction work on the project.
Three riparian States -- Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka -- had already challenged the Inter-State Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal award over sharing of the Mhadei water by filing a special leave petition (SLP) in the apex court. Goa's appeal has been fixed for final hearing in July this year.