Even as Goa and Karnataka slug it out over the disputed waters of the Mhadei/Mandovi river water, former Goa Chief Minister Ravi Naik has suggested a 'unique' idea to tap the excess river water flowing into the Arabian Sea.

Naik, a Congress legislator, told reporters here on Tuesday that river water in the state should be harvested by building dams and selling it off to water-deprived regions of the country and even exporting it to the Arabian region to generate revenue.

"So much of our water is wasted. Now, our government could build dams and privatise it. The water can then be exported by putting up dams and give us (the state) some revenue. Dams can be put up all over Goa.

The water can be stopped and sent to Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana or even Arab countries," he said.

"They (Arab countries) export petrol, we can export water. We do not get enough water to drink, despite there being an abundance of water in Goa," Naik said, calling for better harvesting of excess water which spills into the sea.