Panaji, Dec 29 (TOI): Since cabinet colleagues are expressing different opinions about his recent letter to Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa over Mhadei issue, chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday briefed his ministers about the same.
"There is no apprehension in the minds of the cabinet colleagues over Mhadei," Parrikar told reporters post the cabinet meeting. I do not need to take cabinet approval to write a letter, he said.
Parrikar said, the Congress sacrificed Goa's interest on Mhadei in 2007 and I will produce documents, in the next assembly session, which will expose them.
Reacting to the number of activists, NGOs and journalists commenting on Mhadei issue, Parrikar said we will call these people to become witnesses in the tribunal and strengthen Goa's case. He also said that when we were finding good witnesses to record their statement before the tribunal we did not get anyone, except environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar.
"I will list the names of activists, NGOs and journalists and forward it to senior counsel and additional solicitor general of India Atmaram Nadkarni to make them witness in the tribunal," he said. Last time he had a bad experience in getting witnesses, the chief minister said.
The Mhadei issue is not properly understood, the issue before the tribunal is the transfer of water from one basin to another, he said.
Parrikar said that 35km of length of Mhadei river is in Karnataka, 16km in Maharashtra and 52km in Goa. "Almost half the river is flowing through Karnataka and Maharashtra," he said.
If someone drinks water in Karnataka or Maharashtra can we stop them? We have to understand the matter first, people tend to talk without understanding the issue, the chief minister said.
"I'm beyond pressure," Parrikar said when asked whether he was forced by his party's central leadership to give the letter to Karnataka BJP chief. He said he will reply to the Karnataka chief minister's letter if he gets one. "I have not got any letter from Karnataka CM," the CM said and added, "If any decision is taken then I will not hide about it."
Parrikar said his letter to Yeddyurappa is legally sound and does not compromise the state's interest on Mhadei in any way.