PANJIM: Water Resource Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raising strong objection to the “unilateral” action of Central Water Commission (CWC) by granting technical clearance to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for Kalasa-Bhandura drinking water project over Mhadei River.
Shirodkar has demanded immediate withdrawal of the permission granted to Karnataka as the alleged diversion of the Mhadei River will cause immense damage to the water security, ecology, salinity, water balance, river ecology and environment.
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Shirodkar is currently in Bhopal for the first All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on the theme “Water Vision @2047”. The two-day conference is chaired by Shekhawat.
A statement issued by WRD Minister’s office stated that Shirodkar handed over the memorandum to the Union Minister objecting to the unilateral action of CWC.
The Minister’s office said that the Shirodkar in the memorandum has raised strong objection to the technical clearance given by CWC to Karnataka for diversion of the inter-State Mhadei River water.
“The WRD Minister in his representation has strongly objected and informed that CWC has acted in high-handed and biased manner and against the natural justice,” the office said.
The Minister said that the Centre knew very well that the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court and that Goa has opposed Karnataka’s action on all front and also challenged Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) Award.
“And CWC without the consent of the State of Goa in haste have issued technical clearance for diversion of Mhadei River,” the Minister’s office stated further.
Earlier this week, the Goa Cabinet resolved to fight against the Centre and petition Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Shekhawat demanding that the permission granted to Karnataka be revoked.
