Karnataka deserves no leniency on Mhadei
As the people’s paper from Goa, it is perhaps natural that the vexed Mhadei water distribution debate will be seen with biased eyes. But if a bias is based on fact as well as emotion so be it. A biased view is more honourable than a jaundiced one.
From April 2002 onwards when the Karnataka government sought clearance from the Centre for diversion of 7.56 TMC of water from Mhadei river, Karnataka’s intentions have never been completely honest. Goa was quick to see this and raised objections at the very onset leading to the formation of the water disputes tribunal. The in principal approval to Karnataka to divert water was been kept in abeyance then due to Goa’s intervention.
Thereafter work on the Kalsa Bandhura canal for water diversion began and it was only in 2009 that the Congress government in Goa granted a no objection certificate for diversion of water.
The point where Karnataka’s need became Goa’s nightmare was its insistence on diversion of water to meet the drinking water needs of Hubli and Dharwad
Senior Karnataka MP Ananth Kumar said in parliament “The drinking water crisis has persisted for last 20 years. The situation is so bad now that millions of people there get drinking water only once in 15 days and it is worst during summer,”
Another Karnataka MP Prahlad Joshi said Goa was raising ‘unnecessary objections’ on the diversion and insisted that Mhadei water was being used for irrigation purposes. Kumar said in parliament “Meetings were held in 1998, 1999, 2000 and in 2002 there was an interstate meeting held in New Delhi. In that meeting, Chairman of Central Water Commission expressed his regrets towards the attitude of Government of Goa in bringing unnecessary objections because Goa, day in, day out, raised many objections”
It’s clear that Karnataka was trying to bulldoze its way. It is imperative for any state in a federal structure to look after its interests, but not on the foundation of mis-information cleverly bandied to suit one sate at the cost of another
Goa was right in raising objections. Karnataka needs to admit to a bitter truth that the Mhadei River flowing 54 kms in Goa and 29 kms in Karnataka is being illegally diverted for irrigation purposes under the garb of drinking water.
The debate over Mhadei water sharing should be seen through the prism of truth versus hype especially because the diversion has literally ruined villages on the Goa side with wells going dry, fields getting destroyed and livelihoods affected. In Kankumbi, traditional farming communities have become daily wage earners and fruit and vegetable sellers because water, the principal source of all activity is being denied to Kankumbi to ostensibly quench the thirst of those in Hubli. The total quantity of water it proposed to divert as per the Kalasa Nala Diversion Scheme was 3.56 Thousand Million Cubic feet per year.
In reality, the thirst of mega cash rich farmers of Karnataka has been quenched.
The retaining wall which Karnataka has to build as per the water disputes tribunal order will prevent the diversion and allow water to move to Goa. Herald was shocked to find that less than 48 hours before the deadline to build this wall was to lapse, a little over 60% work on the right vent and about half on the left vent have been completed. Therefore it was surprising that the Goa team which included the Advocate Genral, accepted Karnataka’s version that 90 % work has been done.
If Goa has decided not to pin Karnataka down to its deadline in the hope that the wall will be made albeit a little late, rather than drag them to court again, it’s a view that may be acceptable to new kids on the block, untainted by the mind games that these disputes are made up of. But pragmatism doesn’t allow a single kid glove to be a part of this baggage. The gloves need to be off with Karnataka or, as, history shows, it might deny Goa its rights.
As our comprehensive 360 degree look at the issue (on page 2) reveals, any softness on the part of Goa, will affect lives and livelihoods in Goa’s villages. If the deadline for building the retaining wall is not met by May 31 (today), Goa should, without hesitation file a contempt petition against Karnataka
Our needs cannot be hostage to Karnataka’s greed.
