MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Environmentalists and activists have demanded that the Goa government should stop Karnataka’s move to go ahead with the Lift Scheme to pump Mhadei water into the Malaprabha river basin. They further insisted that declaring Tiger Reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary will definitely protect Mhadei water from being diverted.
They insisted that Karnataka has floated a tender for carrying the damming and diversion of Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs into the Malaprabha basin at a render value of Rs 351.75 crore. The waters of Kalasa, Surla, and Haltara nullahs flow naturally into the Mhadei, which will stop with the construction of the dams.
Reacting to Karnataka's move, former Minister and Mahdei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) convenor Nirmala Sawant said, “We are not bothered about Karnataka retendering the work. But we will file a contempt petition if they start any construction activity because Karnataka had given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that they will not start any construction work till they obtain all the environmental clearances.”
MBA’s counsel Adv Bhavani Shanker Gadnis said, “Karnataka will not be in a position to start the work because the matter has now been listed for hearing before the Supreme Court from next month. In view of that, any attempt by Karnataka will expose them to contempt. The Karnataka government is already exposed in the Cauvery water dispute. They will not succeed, it’s only hype and they are creating tremors.”
Save Mhadei Save Goa Front convenor, Adv Hrudaynath Shirodkar said, “We condemn Karnataka government’s action. The Goa government should immediately approach CWC to withdraw the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka. We have been demanding it since January 16 this year and the Sawant government has not challenged Karnataka’s revised DPR before CWC or Supreme Court.”
Adv Shirodkar demanded to know how Karnataka can start construction work in Surla tributaries when it was not a part of Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal’s verdict.
Save Mhadei Save Goa Front co-convenor Prof Prajal Sakhardande charged that the Goa government was totally unconcerned and complacent. The Mhadei dispute is not going to be settled soon and the people of Goa will have to restart their protests as the matter will be heard by the Supreme Court commencing on November 6.
“Save Mhadei Save Goa and MBA members will meet soon to decide a plan of action as Goa government is least bothered about Mhadei river,” Sakhardande said.
Environmentalist and spearhead of a people’s organisation Rainbow Warriors, Abhijit Prabhudesai said that Karnataka retendering its construction work to divert water was illegal and unacceptable because the decision to notify the Tiger Reserve was pending.
He demanded that the Goa government should raise the issue before the Central Water Commission (CWC) or Supreme Court and stop Karnataka’s sinister design.
Prabhudesai further demanded that the Goa government should immediately withdraw its petition challenging notifying Tiger Reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary because Tiger Reserve will protect Mhadei river.
Francisco Raposo of Neura said that what Karnataka was doing was not favourable for Goa when the status quo had to be maintained till the dispute was settled by the Supreme Court. The activists are also fighting to declare a Tiger Reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as it will protect the Mhadei river and foil Karnataka’s attempts.
