Will go to SC if K’taka carries out work at Kankumbi: Mantri

Ponda: Water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar on Thursday said his department is closely monitoring Karnataka’s Kalasa nullah project site at Kankumbi, where WRD officials from Goa were rushed after having received information that the neighbouring state had resumed water diversion work. Shirodkar further warned that if Karnataka is once again seen working to divert the Mhadei’s tributaries at Kankumbi into the Malaprabha basin, Goa govt would file a contempt petition before the Supreme Court.
On March 19, TOI had reported that the neighbouring state had resumed work at Kankumbi to direct the flow of monsoonal water towards the Kalasa project site, altering its natural flow towards Goa.Deep channels were seen dug to allow water to flow into a conduit built by Karnataka.
“The matter is before the Supreme Court and will come up for hearing this June. If Karnataka attempts changing the flow (of the Mhadei river), we will file a contempt petition before the apex court,” Shirodkar told reporters at Shiroda, Ponda.
The minister also said that the WRD has asked the Mhadei Prawah, to hold a joint inspection of the work being done by Karnataka so that officials on both sides are up to speed with the situation.
Shirodkar said although a report is awaited by Goa’s officials on Karnataka’s ongoing work at Kankumbi, preliminary information shows that Karnataka is trenching in the Mhadei basin.
Earlier, Karnataka had built open-cut canals and underground tunnels, facilitating the diversion of the natural flow of the Kalasa nullah into the Malaprabha basin. Work was stopped after Goa approached the Supreme Court.