FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Almost three months after the announcement of its formation, the Union government has now notified the Mhadei PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony) or the Mhadei Water Management Authority to ‘give effect to the award of the Inter-State Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal.
The Mhadei PRAWAH will be headquartered in Panjim. The scheme titled Mhadei Water Management Scheme, 2023 has been framed, to constitute the Mhadei PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare And Harmony) and notified on May 22, 2023.
The Authority will be headed by Chairperson (full-time independent) amongst the serving officers, an engineer from the Central Water Engineering Service cadre of the level of Higher Administrative Grade or member, Central Water Commission and will be appointed for a term not exceeding three years.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who had announced that the Authority would also “aid in building mutual trust and understanding among party States i.e. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, thereby ensure the right use of water resources of this region for its overall development”.
On November 16, 2010, the Government of India had constituted the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal, to adjudicate upon the water dispute between the three riparian States. The tribunal submitted its report on August 14, 2018 even as three States have challenged the tribunal award before the Supreme Court.
Extending his gratitude to the Union government for meeting one of Goa’s crucial demands and giving the approval for the constitution and notifying Mhadei PRAWAH, as well as for authorising the establishment of its headquarters in Panjim, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “This significant decision marks a major milestone in our collective efforts to safeguard Mother Mhadei.”
