Kalasa-Banduri inspection ruckus: Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai writes to SC

We express concern towards the attitude and behaviour of the Karnataka government and its police force on handling critical multi-state issues like the Mahadayi diversion, he said

Goa Forward Party's President Vijai Sardesai escalated the face-off between the Goa government officials and Karnataka Police at the Kalasa-Banduri canal site by writing to the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Saturday, urging him to institute a probe into the matter.

In his letter to Bobde, Sardesai said that the refusal by the Karnataka Police to allow Goa Water Resources Department officials to participate in the joint inspection of the canal on Friday, as directed by the apex court last month, amounted to "gross violation and misbehaviour".

"Goan delegation who were part of the outside the Kalsa project while the joint their lDs confiscated by the Karnataka joint inspection team were made to wait, while inspection was being carried out. Additionally, the Goan delegation reported that they faced numerous instances of verbal abuse and were treated with utmost disrespect," the letter to Bobde said, adding that the Goa delegation was only "exercising its responsibilities prescribed by the apex court".

"Honourable Chief Justice, we express concern towards the attitude and behaviour of the Karnataka government and its police force on handling critical multi-state issues like the Mahadayi diversion and worry that they may be attempting to circumvent from the due process directed by the Supreme Court. We look to you and the apex court to examine this matter on behalf of the people, and future generations of Goa," the letter also said.

The Opposition in Goa on Friday had urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to call Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa and lodge a protest against the conduct of the southern state's officials.

The apex court is hearing a special leave petition filed by the Goa government challenging the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal award, along with a contempt petition filed by the state government which accused Karnataka of already diverting the river's water despite the case being pending before the Supreme Court.