This became amply clear on Monday when the all-party delegation from Goa went to New Delhi for an audience with the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. All that the delegation from Goa returned with was the assurance from the Union Environment Minister, as informed by the Chief Minister, that the interests of the State and people of Goa will be protected.
The meeting took a surprise turn, when the Union Minister inforned the all-party delegation from Goa that he will look into the matter and assured them of a written communication within ten days. The current storm over the Mhadei was ignited after a tweet from the Union Minister that environmental approval for the Kalasa-Bhanduri project had been granted. The tweet was deleted just hours later, but Goa’s fight over it did not and has not abated. The Union Minister has now sought ten days to revert on the issue, but was such a period required? This puts a pause on the battle to save the waters of the Mhadei from being diverted, but this time should be utilised to regroup and for Goa to return with their powder dry for the fight ahead.
Goa has to be extra cautious on the issue, which it has been defending for decades. All attempts towards protecting the waters of the Mhadei should be seen to be a united effort, so that other States cannot take advantage of any disagreement that may exist on the issue in Goa. Towards that goal, the all-party delegation that also included members of the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan, displayed unity among the political class on the issue. Having said that, the rasta rokho on an evening last week at Porvorim, did nothing towards the cause of the Mhadei. It only created trouble for the common man who got stuck in a traffic jam that did not bring any clarity on the issue. Such protests should not happen, instead there has to be unity displayed. One aspect has, however, been esablished and everyone is united on it, that the letter sent to Karnataka is against the interests of Goa and Goans.
It is interesting that while the Goa delegation was in New Delhi meeting the Union Minister for Environment, in Goa, the NGO Goencho Avaaz was giving a call to all political parties to sink their differences and come together on one platform to fight the Mhadei. Goencho Avaaz’s word of advice, that Goa’s MLAs need to learn from Karnataka whose MLAs, no matter which side of the political line they are on, always stand united in any fight with other States on water sharing and in protecting the interest of their State, should be heeded. The bottom line is that Goa cannot afford to lose its share of water from the Mhadei, so this is one issue that has to be apolitical and fought as such.
In this fight one cannot rule out the possibility, as pointed out by Goa Forward Party and Goencho Avaaz, that the approval to the Kalasa-Bhanduri project is an entirely political decision, with an eye on the up-coming by-elections in the neighbouring State, whose outcome will either strengthen the BJP government there or result in more uncertainity. Herald too had raised the possibility of this letter being a quid-pro-quo, but while this will remain merely speculation, it cannot be ruled out. Goa’s efforts now have to be to keep watch at the site and ensure that no work is carried on there, as it awaits the response from the Union Minister.
