Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar while answering during demands for grants of the water resources department on Thursday announced that the government will be building five new dams and 100 embankments in the basin of Mhadei. This means that till now the government wasn’t doing anything to safeguard this water.
There are three main dams in the State at Salaulim, Anjunem and Chapoli. There is one dam at Amthane but it is of embankment-nature. There was a proposal of building a dam at Charavane but there has been no update on the work yet. Goa also receives water from Tillari dam. Bundh at Opa to help in meeting the State’s requirement of water. All in all, these are the water projects which quench the thirst of Goans. The delay in monsoon this year led to a drop in the water level of some of the dams and the embankments. This caused scarcity of water in many parts of the State. The current water system in the State isn’t sufficient enough to meet the needs of the people. This requires more planning and the WRD Minister admitted it. That is why the government is planning to build five more dams along with 100 embankments. However, the issue isn’t limited to just this and has more layers to it.
The neighbouring State of Karnataka is diverting the water of Mhadei by building bundhs over the river. Goa has opposed it and also challenged it in the Supreme Court. However, Karnataka while presenting its case in front of Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal claimed that the state of Goa isn’t utilising Mhadei’s waters as it runs into the sea. This was one of the reasons why Karnataka was given the approval to divert the water. In short, Karnataka’s argument was letting them use the water as Goa wasn’t in need of it anyway. The Goa government did not do anything to counter Karnataka’s argument but it is a welcoming move that the government is now planning on building five dams to utilise the excess water. This will not only strengthen the movement to safeguard Mhadei river but will also help in meeting the water requirements of the locals. Not that the State wasn’t using Mhadei’s water at all.
The fields and orchards on the banks of the river were using the same water for irrigation purposes. Although the water wasn’t utilised through dams and the embankments, the public settlements on the bank of the river used the river’s water. Mhadei has been enriching people’s lives for ages. However, this enrichment was limited to people who reside on the banks of the river. Therefore the decision to build dams and provide Mhadei’s water to other people through taps should be welcomed. The WRD minister has said that the work of the dams will commence at the end of the year. However, it is not possible to begin work on the dams in such a short time. Building something as huge as a dam requires multiple permissions and that could be the reason behind the delay of the construction work. The matter of Charavane dam in Sattari has been going on for many years and is yet to be completed. This should give one an idea of how long it can take to complete a dam. Another topic that the WRD Minister addressed was the efforts put in by the State government to safeguard Mhadei. On the request of the Goa government, the Central government’s Ministry of Jal Shakti established the ‘PRAWAH’ committee.
Three members have already been appointed on the committee, while two more members will be appointed in the upcoming days. Both the States can present their queries regarding distribution of the water as well as inter-state questions and can also follow up with the body. Hence, as per the Minister, the ‘PRAWAH’ will serve justice to the State in terms of distribution of river water. Since the minister himself has claimed that the respective committee will give justice to Goa with regard to distribution of water, that means he has already presumed that the State has gotten approval to divert the water. If that is true, why would Mhadei need any kind of protection? The question of water distribution arises only if the river waters are diverted by building bundh over it. Hence, if the government is thinking of distribution of the water then there is no question left of fighting for Mhadei. The Opposition and the environmentalists have been persistent on notifying Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve as that would refrain from any sorts of constructions taking place in the region. If Mhadei sanctuary is notified as a tiger reserve then Karnataka will not be able to divert the water since according to the law, projects like dams cannot be built in the tiger reserves. This will naturally provide protection to Mhadei river, as per the environmentalists. However, the ministers have said not to link Mhadei issue with the tiger reserve. This means that the government is adamant on not wanting to have tiger reserve in the State.
