PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that Supreme Court had clarified that interim order of Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) dated April 17, 2014, continued to be in operation and that no work can be started by Karnataka without obtaining all necessary permissions from the Government of India.
After the Supreme Court disposed of Goa's intervention application on Monday, the chief minister said, ''On an application for orders made by State of Goa, the Supreme Court clarifies that the interim order dated 17/4/2014 continues to be in operation and no work can be started by Karnataka in implementation of the award without all permissions from Central government and without preparing DPR (Detailed Project Report).''
"With this... the Supreme Court has said that the apprehension of Goa government on the basis newspaper reports that Karnataka will carry out work does not survive and so the application of Goa government is not required," Sawant said. "In case, Karnataka attempts to carry out illegal construction or diversion of water, the Goa government shall file contempt petition before the Supreme Court of India," the Chief Minister said.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam, who was also present in the apex court during the hearing endorsed the statement made by the Chief Minister. He said that the Tribunal's interim order dated April 17. 2014 restraining Karnataka from carrying out any diversion of any quantum of water or any construction activity will continue.
Senior counsel Mukhul Rohtagi argued on behalf of the Goa government, he informed. Advocate General Pangam said that special leave petition filed by the Goa government against the fining of the Tribunal's report dated August 14, 2018 will now come up for final hearing before the Supreme Court on July 15 this year. The Court will hear Goa's plea for three days ie July 15, 16 and 22.
Recently, the Supreme Court had allowed notification of the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal award given on August 14, 2018, on a request made by Karnataka government. While Karnataka claimed that permission for notification was a major victory, Goa government and State BJP insisted that the nod was merely technical in nature.
However, opposition parties slammed the Pramod Sawant-led government alleging that it did not even oppose Karnataka counsel’s plea for notification of the award. The opposition parties also demanded a white paper on the Mhadei issue.