Team Herald
PANJIM: The members of the House Committee, constituted to study the issues related to Mhadei river diversion, were on Wednesday shocked to learn that the Goa government is yet to receive official copy of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka’s Kalasa-Bandura irrigation project, even over a month after it was approved by Central Water Commission (CWC).
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While opposition accused the State government of compromising the Mhadei river diversion issue with the Centre with eye on upcoming general elections in Karnataka, the ruling feels that the battle now can only be won in the Supreme Court.
The preliminary meeting of the 12-member House Committee under chairmanship of WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar was held on Wednesday. During the meeting, the members from the ruling as well opposition parties said that Goa needs to put up a strong case on ecological, wildlife and environmental grounds. Some of the members pointed out that the government should take immediate steps to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserve and demarcate the boundaries of the wildlife sanctuaries to strengthen Goa’s Interlocutory Application before the Supreme Court, which is likely to hear it on February 13.
The members recommended constituting Advisory Board or Expert Committee comprising of members like Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan convenor Nirmala Sawant, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar and Dr Nandkumar Kamat, former chief conservator of forest Richard D’Souza among others to study the ill-effect of Mhadei diversion. The opposition has also demanded summoning of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the matter.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Shirodkar said that the preliminary meeting was “beautiful” with members recommending several suggestions.
He said that the State government is yet to receive an official copy of the DPR from the Central government.
“But we have downloaded it from the official website. This is a digital world. But still we are going to further request for an official copy,” he said.
Within the next 15-20 days, House Committee will appoint consultants and experts to submit reports on the ill-effects of the diversion by Karnataka, said Shirodkar
BJP MLA Michael Lobo said that the House Committee needs to take onboard some environmentalists to study the environmental, ecological and other wildlife related aspects as far as Mhadei river is concerned. He said that Western Ghats is a UNESCO recognised heritage site and it will have wide implications if river water is diverted.
“We need to fight our case on ecological and wildlife parameters. Drinking water should not be our focus. When we talk about the Wildlife Protection Act, we need to put up a strong case. The Supreme Court in the past has taken cognisance and protected wildlife in other States,” he said.
Lobo said that the only battle we can win is before the Supreme Court.
Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira said that in the absence of DPR official copy, we cannot present a half-backed case before the Supreme Court. “Govt of India is not ready to give official DPR copy. We need to agitate to get it at the earliest,” he said.
Pointing to the DPR unofficial copy, Carlos Ferreira said that Karnataka has clearly said that since tribunal award is notified, there is no question to take say of co-basin States.
GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas termed this meeting as “timepass”. “They are going to drag this issue till Karnataka elections in May,” they said.
“The State has already compromised with the Centre. Till May, they are not going to do anything. Later there will be Lok Sabha elections and from Karnataka they will get 28 MLAs, whereas from Goa only two,” Sardesai said. During the meeting he pointed out why the government allowed the Tribunal Award to be notified and also why it failed to pursue a Special Leave Petition and Contempt plea filed against Karnataka in SC.
On the other hand, Viegas said that the government needs to notify the Mhadei area as Tiger Reserve and rehabilitate the people. Also, steps need to be taken to demarcate wildlife boundaries. He said that Goa should strengthen its case based on environmental grounds. “So far, Goa is only building a case on Karnataka diverting water without nods. If nods are given tomorrow, Goa’s case will be lost,” he said.
