Staff Reporter
Panaji
Nearly two weeks after its meeting, the House committee on the Mhadei water dispute is yet to inform state legislative assembly Speaker Ram-esh Tawadkar about its decision to ask him to write to his counterpart in Karnataka to seek approval for inspecting the Kalasa-Banduri sites in the neighbouring state, where work has been carried out to divert water from the Mhadei basin.
Speaking to The Navhind Times on Monday, Tawadkar clarified that he has no role in the matter.
Tawadkar confirmed that he has received no communication on the matter so far and was only learning about it through the media.
He emphasised that it is the responsibility of the state government, not the Speaker, to request permission from Karnataka for the site visit.
“How can I request permission? As Speaker, my role is limited to overseeing the proceedings of the House. I have no role to play in it,” Tawadkar explained.
He also pointed out that the House panel will submit its report to the government, not to the Speaker.
At its meeting on January 8, the House committee unanimously decided to visit the Kalasa and Banduri sites to assess the situation following reports about work to divert water from the Mhadei basin to the Malprabha basin.
Committee chairman and Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar had announced that he would send a request to Speaker, asking him to write to his counterpart in Karnataka to seek approval for the inspection.
