PANJIM: The Save Mhadei Save Goa on Saturday appealed to the people of the State to lit diyas outside their houses between 7 pm and 7.30 pm, to show their protest against handling of the Mhadei river issue and to express their solidarity on Sunday, February 12.
The appeal was made by representatives of various NGOs, social activists and environmentalists who have come under the banner of Save Mhadei Save Goa movement, to oppose Karnataka’s move to divert Mhadei river and to demand to withdraw the approval granted to Karnataka’s Detailed project Report (DPR) by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Speaking to reporters, historian Prof Prajal Sakhardande said that lighting diyas, candles and ceremonial lamps is a symbolic gesture for Mhadei river and a wakeup call to fight to protect the river. He said that they have already started organising taluka-level corner meetings so as to create awareness among the people about the need to save Mhadei river after the Centre granted approval to Karnataka’s DPR.
Save Mhadei Save Goa convenor Adv Hrudaynath Shirodkar said that the people will foil Karnataka’s sinister designs to construct dams in the Mhadei river basin.
He also appealed to all MLAs to lit diyas at the residences on Sunday evening to fight against Karnataka and to support the ongoing fight to save Mhadei.
The speakers said that fighting the battle in the Supreme Court will not be enough and that there has to be a mass people’s movement.
Former CCP councillor Patricio Pinto, Abhijit Prabhudesai and others also appealed to the people to support the Save Mhadei Save Goa, who have been fighting relentlessly to save Mhadei river.
