Karnataka cops detain Goa team inspecting Kankumbi site

NT NETWORK

 

SAKHALI

A team of the water resource department (WRD) officials, which was on an official visit to Kankumbi in Karnataka to check the diversion of Mhadei river water into Malaprabha basin was interrupted while on duty and detained by Karnataka police on Wednesday.

The police of the neighbouring state questioned the WRD officials and later released them after warning them to henceforth visit the Kankumbi site only after proper permissions from the police officials in the district.

The WRD team that was detained included Dinesh Mahale, executive engineer; R Bandekar, assistant engineer; Mario Rebello, assistant engineer; M Xavier, junior engineer and technical team comprising Saiesh Lawande, Sudesh Parulekar, Trupti Prabhugaonkar and Purva Naik.

According to sources, the team of WRD engineers and technical persons was on an official visit to Kankumbi to look into the illegal diversion of Mhadei water into Malaprabha basin by Karnataka.

Water resource department teams have been visiting Kankumbi site for over a decade now over the Mhadei issue. However, on Wednesday the team members were detained in the neighbouring state.

When contacted, WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar said that the government had directed the team to check the latest status on the flow of Mhadei river water at Kankumbi. The team was also instructed to keep a watch on activities of Karnataka. “Our officers were detained by Karnataka and their authorities have also forced the team members to take permission of Deputy Commissioner before entering their area. We will investigate into this matter,” said Palyekar.

According to sub-inspector of Kankumbi Basavraj Patil, Karnataka police did not detain the Goa team. “We only asked them regarding the formalities before inspecting the site in order to have a proper process so as to avoid any law and order situation. We have also directed them to come with proper permission of commissioner and police officers,” he said.

Speaker of Goa legislative assembly Dr Pramod Sawant has condemned the act of Karnataka to disturb Goa team on its visit to Kankumbi.

Meanwhile, Palyekar discussed the Mhadei issue with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was recently on an official visit to New Delhi and briefed him on the situation in Kankumbi.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar has said that by detaining Goa officials of WRD, Karnataka has set a wrong precedent.