THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Centre has made a provision of Rs 5,300 crore for Karnataka’s famine relief and there is no need to explain in detail that this has been done by keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka.
It was a known fact that the neighbouring State would be getting favourable treatment in the budget, but it was not clear until now. This provision should be seen as an arrangement to choke the lifeline of Goa, under the garb of famine relief fund. The ones praising this budget should not ignore such a major matter.
Yes, it is true that the north and central parts of Karnataka are affected by drought and aid must be provided. However, how come this was not brought up by the BJP government in the last four-and-a-half years?
The Centre has provided Karnataka with funds in the budget while the State is ready to begin with the diversion work, after getting the DPR approved. This move is nothing but injustice served to Goa and no protest would be enough to condemn it. The matter can’t be dealt with protests only. The time has come to take real action.
Goa Government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court and is awaiting the judgment. It is regrettable that nothing is being done to erase the lack of unity on the matter in Goa. The reluctance shown by the Goa government to include former MLAs and ministers in meetings over Mhadei signals the lack of seriousness. The situation with Mhadei is like choking someone only after the person runs out of breath.
The authorities are not able to comprehend the gravity of the matter. The realisation will set in only after the State starts facing a severe water shortage a few years down the line. Many people still do not know that Mhadei itself is Mandovi and that unfortunately the protesters have failed in spreading awareness regarding Karnataka’s conspiracy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in his speech in Karnataka said that the BJP government in Karnataka has succeeded in resolving the Mhadei water distribution issue by taking Goa government along, which couldn’t be achieved by the Congress government.
Ignoring Shah’s statements straight away would be a mistake. Of course, his statements are politically motivated considering the Karnataka polls are right around the corner, but one also has to accept that he did not tell lies.
The then Karnataka BJP president B S Yediyurappa had received a letter from Goa government that they will not object to the diversion of Mhadei into Malaprabha river for drinking purpose out of humanitarian concern. The Goa government had also given NOC to the Maharashtra government for building a dam at Virdi.
Accepting the fact that Karnataka too had right over the water, the Goa government gave its consent to form a tribunal. The current situation is an outcome of those mistakes.
Shah’s statements have the reference of a letter given to Yediyurappa and hence it would be wrong to say that his statements were his statements were based on the meeting that happened in Delhi. The BJP leaders and ministers should publicly accept that no promises were made by Shah in that meeting now at least. The meeting was nothing but a plot to sober down people’s anger and the sly move is an open secret.
Shah’s statements have not only silenced the Goa government, but have also exposed its incompetency.
The State government is yet to officially say that Shah is giving misleading information. If the government is finding it hard to say that Shah lied, then at least it should say that Shah made the comments based on wrong information.
The lack of response from the Goa government over Shah’s statements in a way is a tacit consent. The tone in Karnataka, however, is unanimous by keeping their party differences aside. It would be interesting to note that not just BJP, even the Congress too had promised to push the project further if they were to come to power.
Karnataka wants to divert Mhadei’s water into Malaprabha by citing persisting famine in the Hubli-Dharwad region, which is a multi-crore project. The grant announced for poll-bound Karnataka through the budget has strengthened their position in this matter and no one will be able to stop them from diverting Mhadei anymore.
The situation has gone out of hand to such an extent that once the court states that Karnataka is managing water as per the Tribunal’s order, Goa will be left with no option other than to just helplessly watch its lifeline getting snatched away right under its nose.
