The resumption of construction of the dam at Virdi has brought the topic of Mhadei’s diversion back into discussion. Although public awareness campaigns are held by non-profit organisations to save Mhadei, the topic is walking the path into oblivion all over again. People will realise the importance of the issue only when taps run completely dry.
The common understanding is that Mhadei or Mandovi’s basin won’t dry up even if Karnataka diverts water. Many will not believe that fresh and brackish water of the river will be replaced by saline water and turn the river into a creek. The vegetation and habitat on the shores of the creek is different from the river’s environment and this fact has stayed limited only to scientists and social workers. The people do not feel that the matter of Mhadei is of life and death. Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan caught Karnataka in a legal dilemma by approaching the Supreme Court and made them guarantee to stop the construction. And yet, people of Goa have not felt that the issue should be close to their heart.
Although Maharashtra has decided to stop the work at Virdi for now, the sword of Damocles is still hanging for Goa. The Centre formed the PRAWAH authority for water allocation management as per decision of Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. Needless to say, Maharashtra’s share of water will have to be given to them. However, if the neighbouring State takes a stance that they are drawing their share from Virdi then it is going to be difficult to legally stop them. Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka have challenged the Tribunal’s judgement in the Supreme Court but the court has not given the stay to the judgement yet. Hence, keeping in mind the Tribunal’s judgement, Goa will have to take future steps by accepting the fact that Maharashtra and Karnataka too, have the right on Mhadei’s waters. Karnataka’s assurance in the Supreme Court that they will not continue with Kalasa project’s work may work in our favour as Goa can claim contempt of court by the neighbouring state.
The decision to safeguard Mhadei was taken by the village of Virdi itself around a month ago. However, just like the Goan public, people from Sindhudurg did not take the matter seriously and Virdi did not get the support it needed. A part of the Kalasa nullah enters Goa from Surla while another flows into Virdi village in Sindhudurg. Villagers of Virdi fear that water of the Virdi river will dry up if Karnataka were to block the flow of Kalasa at Jamboti. Hence, Virdi villagers are against Karnataka, while Goa is against plans of a dam on Virdi.
At first, it has to be checked whether the flow at Virdi is perennial or not, as Maharashtra claims it to be monsoon waters which they are aiming to utilise for irrigation and drinking through a dam. The facts in Maharashtra’s claims have to be weighed and if the dam has to be constructed then the State should negotiate for its rightful share of the water.
Goa cannot fight over water with Karnataka and Maharashtra at the same time. However, Maharashtra’s support against Karnataka might favour us. The Government has adopted a similar stance and there is no urgent need to change it. There was objection to the Virdi dam was always there and it is still there today, but a strategic decision of whether to object it tomorrow has to be taken. The Tribunal rejected all the projects of Goa due to insufficient information, while four of Maharashtra’s projects have been approved. Though an emotional matter, the issue cannot be solved with emotional speeches only. It has to be solved as per Tribunal’s judgement (till SC gives a stay to Tribunal’s order). There is 188.06 tmcft of water in the river and monsoon showers from 2,031 sq km pour into it. Accumulation of 32.11 tmcft from 375 sq km area in Karnataka and 7.11 tmcft from Maharashtra’s 77 sq km area reaches Mhadei through tributaries and nullahs. Mhadei basin’s catchment area in Goa stands at 1,580 sq km, with 148.74 tmcft monsoon water pouring into it as per notification of Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Goa cannot take the role of a mere viewer at the attempts of diverting each and every drop of Mhadei. While drafting the projects to utilise water, attention has to be given to projects such as Virdi as well.
