I refer to the recent news reports on the Virdi Dam project that appeared just below the news reports on Mopa Airport on two consecutive days (Voice of Goa page 3 / Herald 1st May 2015 & Voice of Goa page 3/ Herald 2nd May 2015).
The State of Maharashtra has plans for diverting water from Mhadei basin to Tillari basin after completing work on the Virdi dam. Therefore, instead of taking suitable action to remove structures constructed without proper approvals, serious attempts will be made to define river water sharing to promote transfer of diverted water through tunnels/ pipelines/canal structures from the Tillari basin source. The objective of the water transfer is for implementing the business plans of the metropolitan economic region with hidden land-use plans.
The water requirements for Mopa Airport and other unsustainable Mopa Airport supporting projects such as golf courses, SEZ/urban townships and tourism development projects near the geographical boundary of Goa are linked to the water diversion from Mhadei basin to Tillari basin. Can the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal allow the river diversion and river water sharing by permitting destruction of the eco-sensitive Western Ghats and the existing traditional river systems that depend on the natural flow of Mhadei water and its tributaries throughout the year?
In my letter that appeared on the edit page of the Herald dated February 21, 2015, the hidden plans for promoting unsustainable development have been highlighted.
There is an urgent need to stop the Mhadei River diversion and reject Mopa Airport!
Since Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal may have sweeping powers to define water sharing plans by rejecting objections on river diversion, this subject needs urgent attention. There can be attempts in the near future to refer the EIA related issues of unsustainable projects to the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal. As water sharing is the main objective of the tribunal, EIA issues can take a back seat. Also, it may not be possible to challenge the decision of the tribunal in any other court of law in India.
