Panaji: Goa Minister for Water Resources, Vinod Palyekar on Saturday apologised for his comments on the Mahadayi inter-state Water Dispute Tribunal. Mr. Palyekar had on Thursday said that ‘retired judges heading the tribunal had a “soft corner” for Goa.
“I only spoke about the good of Goa, but still irrespective of that, if Karnataka government believes it is improper, then I apologise to the judiciary,” Mr. Palyekar told presspersons here.
Speaking at a function on Water Day, organised by the State Water Resources department, the Minister had said: “May God give us success in this case. The judges also know what the matter is about and they have a soft corner for Goa. We are dependent on the Mahadayi river, not just us but also for wildlife”. Goa and Karnataka along with Maharashtra are currently locked in a dispute in the tribunal over controversial Kalsa-Bhandura dam project across Mahadayi river. Goa has opposed Karnataka’s plans to divert water from the Mahadayi basin to the basin on the Malaprabha river. The tribunal hearing the dispute is expected to deliver a verdict in a few months.
