Goa to request PM to keep Mhadei case out of proposed tribunal

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the state Legislative Assembly today that he would seek the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to keep the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) out of the purview of the proposed inter-state river water dispute body.
"I will be meeting the Prime Minister next week with a request to exclude MWDT from the ambit of Inter-state River Water Dispute Tribunal which is in the formation stage," Parsekar said.
Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka are locked in a dispute over diversion of Mhadei water which is before the tribunal. Goa's contention is that diversion of water would adversely affect the state's ecology.

"It is a very serious issue and considering that Goa is about to get justice on the dispute, it is necessary to exclude this case from the amendment," the Chief Minister said responding to a calling attention motion of the Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane.
"If our request is not considered, then we will take a all-party delegation (to Delhi) with our demand," he said.
State Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said Goa had already made its submission before the Centre to exclude Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal from the ambit of new body.