By Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Feb 21: Goa government on Friday said that they will file an application before Supreme Court in Mahadayi river diversion matter pleading for the orders to ban Karnataka from taking up any work on Khalsa-Bhanduri project, pending the case before the top court.

Supreme Court’s interim order on Thursday allowed Karnataka government’s plea for implementation of the final award by a Water Dispute tribunal for sharing water from the river.

“We are filing application for stay order before the SC in next three-four days pleading that Karnataka should be asked not to conduct any activity at proposed dam site,” Chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters on Friday.

He said that considering the past track record of Karnataka, the neighbours have a habit of starting the work despite case pending before the SC.

“I have also made statement on the floor of the House that Karnataka has already diverted the water (Kalsa-Bhanduri dam),” he said.

Sawant said that Karnataka’s interim order does not mean “defeat” of Goa as claimed by the opposition parties.

“The opposition parties are politicizing the issue. They should have stood with the government on this issue,” he said.

The chief minister said that the SC has scheduled next hearing in this case in July, during which Goa will “strongly put up its case.”

“We are seeking opinion of expert lawyers on this case,” he said.