MAPUSA: Stating that if the Mhadei water is diverted then the people from six talukas and two districts of Goa, will be left without water and livelihood, Historian and member of Save Mhadei Save Goa front Prajal Sakhardande said that there is long way to go and called upon the people to make sure that Karnataka never gets the environmental clearance (EC) for Kalasa Bandura project.
He said that since 1974, Karnataka has been conspiring to divert the fresh water supply of Goa and from 1998 to till date Goans are battling to save Mhadei.
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He was addressing the corner meeting organised by the front held at Dev Bodgeshwar Temple hall, Mapusa to discuss the strategy in order to create awareness amongst the people on the Mhadei issue. The front members also offered prayers to Dev Bodgeshwar.
Speaking further Sakhardande said, “The plan was to divert the water to Malaprabha basin to provide drinking water to Hubballi-Dharwad on humanitarian grounds, but the actual politics was to provide water for irrigation purposes to sugar plantation lobbies.”
Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes said, “People are forced to start this battle because the State government is not with Goans in this battle. This is not a political issue or out of difference between the parties. It’s not only about drinking water issues, but the flora and fauna and biodiversity will be affected.”
Adv Sashank Narvekar said, “Some countries in Africa struggled to get clean drinking water. We are blessed with fresh water as a result; people in Goa especially the youth have not understood the price of clean water. Need to create awareness amongst the youth the value of clean water.”
“The Western Ghats will only remain in the photographs. The balance between the fresh water and saline water will be disturbed. Just because water is freely and easily available, people have failed to understand the importance of water. It’s not us, but the future generations that will suffer the most,” Adv Narvekar said.
