PANJIM: Stating that Goa's ecology is completely dependent on free flow of Mhadei River and the diversion would affect Goa’s ecology and its drinking water needs, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked him to immediately withdraw the environment consent given to Karnataka for Kalsa-Bhandura project.

The Congress led by GPCC president Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, AICC General Secretary Luizinho Faleiro and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha are protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to draw Centre’s attention on Mhadei issue.

“We would like to draw your kind attention to the shocking fact that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF), Government of India has issued a clearance for the Kalsa-Bhandura diversion project, when the dispute is pending before the Supreme Court and the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal and without consulting Goa. It was done to win by-elections in Karnataka. The people of Goa will never support any diversion of water from Mhadei which is lifeline of our State,” said the letter signed by above four leaders.

The GPCC said Goa is actually a water deficit State and a resolution of Goa Legislative Assembly has recommended the State government to declare Goa as a water deficit State.

“Despite this, it is shocking to know that MoEF has granted environment clearance for an ecologically destructive project by the Government of Karnataka costing Rs 841 crore without consulting State of Goa. The decision will completely destroy the ecology of Goa,” it says. 

“Mhadei is an inseparable lifeline of Goa and if any quantity of water is allowed to be diverted for any purpose, it will create an irreversible damage to the ecology of Goa. We are of the opinion that there cannot be any discussion on water sharing of Mhadei River with any State as other large States have numerous rivers to be tapped and a critical review of their water use would reveal lot of wastage,” the letter reads. 

Further, the letter draws attention of the PM to the fact that Mhadei originates in Karnataka but 78 percent part falls in Goa and the freshwater zone is absolutely limited due to salinity upto Ganjem in Sattari taluka in North Goa. 

“Goa's ecology is completely dependent on free flow of Mhadei River and the diversion would affect Goa’s ecology and its drinking water needs. It will be an ecological disaster if a hydrologically destructive project of Karnataka is permitted,” it says. 

Further, the letter demands that the environmental clearance granted to Government of Karnataka for Kalasa-Bhandura project be revoked immediately and furthermore Karnataka government be directed to undertake systematic management of entire Malaprabha River catchment area and use the full potential of water surplus Renukasagar reservoir, which can fully meet all the needs. There is absolutely no need for diversion of flow of Mhadei River into this reservoir.

“More than half million people in 190 villages in Goa may turn into ecological refugees and the international community would not tolerate such situation,” the letter adds.