Palyekar stokes fresh controversy, says Karnataka habitual lier

Agencies

January 16, 2018

Panaji, Jan 16: Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar today said neighbouring Karnataka was a "habitual lier" on the Mahadayi river case.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil demanded an apology from Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar over alleged abusive words used by Palyekar against Kannadigas recently.

"If Karnataka minister feels that Goa and Goans are liars then it is they (Karnataka) who are habitual liars in Mahadayi case and their witnesses are exposed before Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal," Palyekar said.

"Goans don't have a habit of lying. I personally visited the site along with the team of our engineers. It was quite visible that work on the canal was on and we have collected the evidence which would be produced before the tribunal," the minister said.

Patil, who had visited the spot in the morning, had claimed that Goa's allegations were "false" and "baseless."

"Goa minister Vinod Palyekar who visited Kanakumbi had alleged that we have started work on the Kalsa-Banduri canal project. But that is false. What he has seen is signs of old work," Patil was quoted as saying by media reporters this morning.

Palyekar said Karnataka had been lying about the Mahadayi issue since July 2007.

"Karnataka's witnesses have been exposed by our Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni before the tribunal," the minister said.

The hearing on Goa's arguments against Karnataka's proposed dams on the river will be heard by the tribunal in the first week of February.

Nadkarni had said Goa's case was essentially to challenge the construction of 12 dams by Karnataka on the Mahadayi river and also oppose Karnataka's proposal to divert Mahadayi waters to the Malaprabha reservoir.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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