The massive ground Goa has thus far covered in battling it out with both its neighbouring states, especially Karnataka, from diverting the Mhadei water and reducing the flow into the Mandovi in Goa, makes it imperative for the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal, (MWDT) to complete this in favour of Goa.
Goa is clearly the victim State, fighting to protect its interests against the clear bullying tactics of its neighbours.
Karnataka has been seeking diversion of 7.6 tmc ft of water from the Mahadei river to the Mallaprabha River to meet the drinking water needs of its northwestern districts, Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada, Gadag and Haveri districts. These districts observed a complete bandh last year seeking the implementation of the drinking water supply project.
Goa has managed a favourable intervention from the MWDT whereby Maharastra has been asked to stop further construction of its dam on its side while Karnataka has been asked to put its water diversion plans on hold. Goa had first approached the Supreme Court in 2006 and subsequently the Union government set up the water disputes tribunal in 2010.
The has been raised in the Goa Assembly time and again including last year when Goa Water Resources Minister said that the Karnataka government has been paying scant respect to the orders of the Supreme Court.
Earlier former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accused the erstwhile Pratapsingh Rane government of withdrawing the objections which were earlier raised by the State in the dispute.
“In 2002, Goa government had raised an objection on this project which was later withdrawn in 2007 by Rane government. This gave an opportunity to Karnataka to strengthen their case. We have corrected the mistake now,” he had said
If the new Inter State River Disputes Tribunal is set up, Goa will lose a lot of time. Many issues in the dispute will have to be heard afresh. Moreover the current Mhadei disputes tribunal is a dedicated tribunal. Once the dispute moves to a national tribunal, Goa will have to wait in line for hearings, much like it has to do in matters pending in the Supreme Court. At best all new disputes can be referred to the new Inter State River Disputes Tribunal.
While the State should back this, it must also take into account that it must not make this water disputes resolution an excuse for not handling or giving importance to the growing laundry list of things to be done but not done. Readers will recall how Mr Parrikar as Defence Minister dragged the Mhadei issue to counter leading green activist Claude Alvares’ dedicated attack against the Saligao garbage treatment plant and his litigation against the environment clearance given to the Mandovi bridge. Mr Parrikar had, in very poor taste, remarked, “Why has Claude Alvares kept quiet on the Mhadei issue? Is it because he is from Karnataka?”
Thus the support to the government in fighting for the water rights of Goa, is needed but it must be understood clearly by the government that saving the Mandovi, does not absolve itself from an even bigger sin – destroying Goa’s lands, forests, hillsides and mangroves.
