Team Herald
MAPUSA: Mhadei Bachao Andolan (MBA) convenor Arvind Bhatikar on Monday called upon the people of Goa to come together as individuals and not as organisations to raise their voice and fight against the injustice done to Goa due to the diversion of Mhadei water.
Bhatikar was speaking at the first taluka-level protest held at Mapusa to create awareness among the people on the importance of Mhadei.
“Out of the whole Mhadei river, 78 per cent of water flows into Goa. However, of the 100 per cent, only 40,000 million cubic feet water is allotted to Goa and only 24,000 million cubic feet is actually given to Goa, which is only 60 per cent. We want to question the Government if it is aware of this and if yes then can’t we get more water and what action has the government taken”, asked Bhatikar.
“If 60 per cent is enough then why Manohar Parrikar had said that he is happy with the judgment and what is the secret behind it”, questioned Bhatikar.
“Just because one person is shouting, others should not shout. People should understand what will happen if water is diverted. If the water flow goes down then saltiness of the seawater will increase and it will affect the fish not only of North Goa but also South Goa. The mining business, which was stopped by BJP, if restarted, will reduce the water level, which will affect the mining businesses since barges will not be able to move around,” he said.
He said, “For the Kalasa-Bhanduri project around 65,000 trees will be chopped and around 400 acres of land will be buried resulting in reduction in rainfall and the greenery will fade away, which in turn, will affect the tourism business too. If people consider that Mhadei is located far away and won’t affect us then it is not so. The diversion of Mhadei River will affect the whole of Goa”.
He referred to an article written by journalist Nidhi Jamwal on the Mhadei dispute, which states that Mhadei dispute began in 1973. In 1989, when Pratapsingh Rane was the Chief Minister, he made a letter of understating with the then Karnataka Chief Minister for diversion of water.
“We want the Government to reveal the facts of this letter. Similarly, a letter was made by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to his Karnataka counterpart B S Yeddiyurappa. Political games were played for political and personal benefit in the past as well as now, where letters were exchanged. We should come together and fight against this issue and protect our rights,” he said.
Coordinator of the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan, Elvis Gomes appealed to the youth, especially, people of Goa as well as Goans, who are abroad to participate and support this movement. “This struggle is of every Goan and their future and Goans should support it”.
Gomes referred to the Supreme Court judgment of August 17, 2017 on Mhadei where Karnataka government had declared that no work will be undertaken, “however underground pipeline to divert the water is still being undertaken”.
“We want to ask why action is not taken and why the government did not say it was contempt of court. We have studied this matter and based on our study we will take this movement ahead, Gomes said.
Subhash Velingkar said, “Government is using different modes to fool the people of Goa. People have come together not as organisations but individually. This Government has failed to solve the issues of garbage, preservation of environment and mining”.
He said, “I want to tell the people that this is not an easy task and if we want to protect Mhadei then we will have to bring all the ministers on the streets. People should walk into their offices and ask them to clear their stand instead of just giving fake assurances. Notification is not at all our issue, as the matter is already in Supreme Court”.
“They have planned 11 dams where the Mhadei River will be looted. Strong opposition against this issue has to be made, for which, we are ready to face “jail bharo abhiyan” and if we do not fight then our next generation will accuse us for our failures. Goenkar is not sussegad, Goenkar is calm and the government should not test their patience”, Velingkar added.
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Agitation at Bicholim on Nov 27
BICHOLIM: Mhadei Bachao Abhiyaan will hold an agitation on November 27 from 4 pm to 6 pm in support of the Mhadei river issue.
Addressing a press conference here, MBA members said, on Wednesday they would sit near the government primary building and stage an agitation. They will also go around the Bicholim market and create awareness about the issue.
“Government should take this issue very seriously and so we have decided to agitate where several other NGOs and organisations would also support us,” MBA member, Bholanath Gad said.
