Remark on Mahadayi water tribunal a 'mistake': Goa Minister

Goa Minister Vinod Palyekar today apologised for his remark that the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal had a "soft corner" towards the tourist state which is locked in a bitter row with neighbouring Karnataka.

The water resources minister said it was a "mistake" on his part to give such a statement and maintained he did not intend to show any disrespect to judiciary or judges.

The tribunal is hearing an old dispute between Goa and Karnataka over sharing of water of the Mahadayi river (called Mandovi in the tiny coastal state).

"I will never disrespect judiciary or Judges. If I have said something in the flow of speech then I am sorry. I uttered it by mistake," Palyekar told reporters here.

"But whatever I said or I say is always in favour of Goa," maintained the minister, who belongs to the Goa Forward Party (GFP), an ally of the ruling BJP.

Palyekar, speaking at an event organised to celebrate the World Water Day two days ago, had said "God will give us success in this case because even the judges on the tribunal know what the truth is and they have a soft corner towards Goa."