From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, Jan 18: Goa has welcomed Centre government’s submission before the supreme court committing formation of Mhadei water dispute tribunal.
 
“I have full faith in the centre and their stand before the apex court today has further strengthened my faith in them,” state water resources department minister Philip Nery Rodrigues said.

Goa has been pressing hard for the Mhadei water dispute tribunal since 2002, which will look into contentious issue of damming water on Mhadei river which originates in Karnataka and meets Arabian sea near Panaji in Goa.

Karnataka has drawn up a plan to constructs dams across the river to divert the water to its water scarce Malaprabha basin.

Rodrigues today said that the state government is committed to its people not to allow the water to be diverted as it will be ecological disaster for Goa.

“I had said in past also that we have faith in central government that they will give us justice. The water dispute tribunal will solve the issue,” the minister said.

The union cabinet on December 11, last year, had decided to form the water dispute tribunal to solve the vexed issue. The decision came considering the request of Goa government for such body.

Sources in Goa government confirmed that the request was forwarded to centre for such a tribunal in 2002, which was required to adjudicate the stand off between two neighbouring states on this issue.