Panaji, Jul 24 (IANS): The Karnataka government has already diverted the flow of the Mhadei river at Kalsa-Bhandura and the Goa government will file a contempt petition before the central tribunal, appointed to resolve the inter-state dispute, as a counter-measure, Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar said on Tuesday.

"Digging work was carried out at the Kalsa-Bhanduri nullah and the flow of (Mhadei) water towards Goa has been stopped and diverted to the Malaphrabha (river) basin. Therefore, our team will be filing an application in court tomorrow, including contempt of court, before the Tribunal," Palienkar said.

Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are in a dispute over the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura dam project across the waters of the Mhadei river at a central Tribunal.

Mhadei also known as the Mandovi river is the lifeline of the northern parts of the State. It originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji in Goa, while briefly flowing through the territory of Maharashtra.

Karnataka also aims to build seven dams at various points along the river, including at Kalsa village, aimed at diverting the flow into what it claims is the water-starved Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka. The state has demanded that Goa should allow the transfer of over seven TMC of water to tide over its irrigation and drinking water needs.

Diversion of the water was one of key issues in the North Karnataka region during the recently concluded assembly election.