Team Herald
PORVORIM: After applauding the government work in winning the interim battle on Mhadei diversion, Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai cautioned the government not to allow Karnataka to weaken Goa’s stand in the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal.
Speaking on Wednesday on the demand for grants on agriculture, the MLA pointed out that growth in agriculture has dropped. “The government is justifying its stand to oppose diversion of Mhadei River by Karnataka stating we need water for agriculture but on the ground, the situation is different. We should not give any opportunity to Karnataka to challenge our stand and appeal against the interim order before the Supreme Court,” he said.
He pointed out that government was not strengthening the primary and tertiary sector. “Today, Karnataka is threatening to stop exporting milk and vegetables to Goa. Why are we dependent on them? Government should strengthen the two sectors so that we are self- sufficient and not dependent,” he said.
On electricity, Sardesai questioned the wisdom of the government in hiking the power tariff while on the other hand distributing free LED bulbs to people to reduce the electricity bill. He was supported by Congress MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco who demanded lowering the tariff for the benefit of over 6 lakh consumers.
BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral came down heavily on them saying people should not be misled by wrong information. He said Goa was charging far less per unit than other states.
