Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday urged various leaders in the state to exercise restraint while making any statement on Mahadayi river diversion issue, as it may have reflect in the Supreme Court.
Addressing an event at Porvorim on the occasion of Goa Legislatures’ Day, Sawant said that there is no restriction on Freedom of Speech in the state.
“We are fully supporting the Freedom of Speech in the State. There are protests held against the government, and we respect the freedom,” the chief minister said.
He added that though there is Freedom of Speech, when it comes to the issue of Mahadayi River Water diversion by Karnataka, we should exercise restrain. “Make sure that you don’t get carried away and make the statements which are taken up in the Supreme Court. It will adversely affect our case,” he said.
The chief minister said that the State government is “very much concerned” about Mahadayi river diversion by Karnataka. We are following up the issue with the centre, he said.
Sawant said that the state’s demand for Water Management Authority would be passed by the centre after which the state will be able to get rediverted the water, which is already diverted by Karnataka.
Goa and Karnataka are on logger heads over the issue after the centre approved Detailed Project report of the latter to construct two dams on Mahadayi river.
