SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: In what can be clearly seen as organised confusion, masterminded by the BJP, Goa’s ministers spoke in different voices, some seemingly condemning Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Mhadei, as others played safe by passing the buck to the CM’s court. Chief Minister Sawant himself, stepped aside by refusing to agree or disagree with Amit Shah’s comments in Karnataka, that Goa was party to a decision on the diversion of Mhadei waters to Karnataka.
Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that he does not accept Shah’s remark and Environment Minister Cabral said the issue that they discussed with Amit Shah was to protect Mhadei and to withdraw CWC approval.
As a final resort, the State government is now completely banking on its case before the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the matter on February 13.
It may be recalled that while addressing BJP’s ‘Jana Sankalp Yatra’ in Belagavi in Karnataka on January 28, Shah Congratulated the Karnataka CM and the State leaders for having “done a great job by taking along the BJP government in Goa and quenching the thirst of Karnataka by providing Mhadei water”.
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that he does not accept Shah’s remark. “We don’t accept the comment made by Amit Shah on Mhadei, because no such talks were held anywhere. When we met Amit Shah, he told us that both Goa as well as Karnataka is ours (Centre) and we (Centre) will take care of both the States.”
Shirodkar said that Goa has a strong case before the Court and it will fight till justice is delivered. He also said that DPR approval has not much significance as Karnataka will have to obtain several other permissions before going ahead with the project.
Condemning Shah’s statement, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said that State will lead a delegation again to question the Centre as to when “such talks” between Goa and Karnataka took place.
He also said, “If State feels that there is no support from the Centre in this matter, we will fight all along through the judiciary.”
Cabral said that he was part of the delegation which met the Union Home Minister and no such discussion took place. “The issue that we discussed with Amit Shah was to protect Mhadei and to withdraw CWC approval. I condemn the statement of Shah tooth and nail,” he said.
Cabral also expressed confidence in the Chief Minister, stating that “CM will not make any such compromise behind as River Mhadei is like a mother to him”.
The Minister also said that if by tendering his resignation, the issue can be solved, he is ready to resign
The Chief Minister however opted out of any remark on Amit Shah’s statement even as the State wants to know if Amit Shah's remarks about Goa agreeing to the diversion is true or not. He only said, “There will be no compromise on Mhadei and that Goa has a strong legal standing in the Supreme Court.”
“In the Mhadei battle, Goa’s case is legally very strong. The results of this will be seen very soon. We are working committedly for the protection of Mhadei,” he said.
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane too deflected the question deftly. “Being a sensitive issue, it would be wise if the CM makes the statement. He is our leader and we will support him in every decision.”
Rane, who was also part of the delegation that met Shah, said, “I know what happened there…No one wants the water to be diverted….we need to remember that Karnataka is going for election.”
The two ministers who disagreed with Shah found an ally in Bicholim Independent MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye. He said that he too was present when the Goa delegation met Shah in Delhi and he had assured them that the Centre will look into the Mhadei matter. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had also requested Shah to constitute Mhadei Water Management Authority, he mentioned.
Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira, who had first moved the resolution in the Goa Assembly seeking discussion of River Mhadei, as there was serious apprehensions in the minds of people of Goa about the existence of the river, said, “I have not gone through the exact comment of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also not aware about what reaction WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar gave. Hence I cannot comment on the issue.”
