THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Responding to the clarion call from social activists, several panchayats in Salcete at special gram sabhas held on Thursday, resolved to oppose the Mhadei River diversion and declared their support to the movement to protect the Mhadei.
After a lengthy discussion on the issue, gram sabha members pledged to support the movement called by the social activist and the people of Goa, besides resolving to strongly oppose the approval given for expansion of coal handling at the Mormugao Port and coal transportation.
At the gram sabha meeting of several panchayats, the public anger against the diversion of Mhadei River was witnessed and resolutions in this regard were passed unanimously.
Raia sarpanch Judas Quadros told Herald that a proposal moved by the citizens pertaining to approval of the Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the award given by the Tribunal on the Mhadei dispute was discussed and it was later resolved to oppose the same.
“A resolution opposing coal handling expansion at Mormugao port was also passed,” he said.
Panchayats such as Sao Jose de Areal, Chinchinim-Deussua, Cana-Benaulim, Navelim and others also resolved to oppose the diversion of Mhadei water. Similarly, many village panchayats, who had earlier discussed the Mhadei issue, have now decided to send their resolutions to the State government at the earliest.
Panchayat members from Salcete taluka said that the issue of Mhadei diversion requires emergency action by all to prevent irreversible loss to Goa.
The gram sabha members opined that the proposed diversion of Mhadei waters by Karnataka must be rejected and all permissions granted including the approval of the DPR and the Tribunal’s award in 2018 must also be revoked.
