The Supreme Court directed the Centre to finalise the 3-member panel suggested for constituting the Goa-Karnataka Inter-state River Water Tribunal to settle the dispute on diversion of Mandovi river waters to Karnataka.

Stating this in reply to a call attention motion given notice of by Damodar Naik(BJP) in the State Legislative Assembly, Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues said the apex court had asked the Centre to finalise the list within six weeks.

The list of names includes Chairman and two members of the proposed Tribunal which the Centre had to constitute soon though it was objected by Karnataka. The Centre was verifying the credentials of the members.

The Minister concurred with the serious concern expressed by the members in the House over the manner in which Karnataka government was going ahead with completion of Kalsa Bhandura dam to divert Mhadei(Mandovi) waters to Malaprabha basin, leaving a serious environmental impact on Goa.

With the Goa government objecting to the Karnataka counterpart against diversion of Mandovi waters and approaching the Supreme Court for constituting a tribunal and directing the latter to stop works, the Centre had conveyed its decision to the court on constituting the tribunal.

The apex court, in its hearing, had conveyed the list of members to head the tribunal. Goa government had filed the suit in the year 2006.

"The Goa government is committed to protecting the interests of Goa and will oppose and stall any moves by Karnataka to diver the Madei waters to Malaprabha or any other basin. Efforts will continue to be made before the appropriate authorities to place the grievances of the state," Mr Rodrigues added.

UNI