PANJIM: Cautioning the people about water scarcity and increasing diversion of water from local communities to profit-seeking corporations, the Save Mhadei Save Goa has called upon Goans to unite and start a State-wide revolution to save the water resources of the State, before it is too late.
Save Mhadei Save Goa has given a clarion call to the people of Goa to assemble at Lohia Maidan, Margao at 4 pm on the Goa Revolution Day, June 18.
Addressing a press conference, Save Mhadei Save Goa convenor Prof Prajal Sakhardande said that it is utmost important that the reluctant BJP government is forced by the people to immediately save River Mhadei by stopping its diversion, and to stop destroying local water resources for greed of a few crony capitalists.
Reminiscing the June 1946 Revolution held at Margao to liberate Goa, Prof Sakhardande said, “We want to remind people of Goa and government that this is the last chance for us to save our water resources, failing which our future generations will have no water to survive.”
Save Mhadei Save Goa convenor Mahesh Mahambrey said that there are many ominous signs that the water crises have already hit Goa. River Khandepar is dry this summer, and Goans are drinking water from mining pits fed into Opa water works, without testing for toxic heavy metals that are normally found in such pits. Mhaisal Dam ran dry, as did many of other water bodies and springs.
He alleged that ministers are scurrying around in villages like Sarzora, looking for water to feed the real estate greed in distant urban and industrial areas.
“Usgao and Khandepar villages are staring at floods and destruction, only to satisfy the greed of industrialists for huge amounts of water. From Pernem to Canacona, we are all united in this water crisis created by the government,” he said.
According to activist Abhijit Prabhudesai, some of the immediate threats to water resources due to the government’s total failure are diversion of River Mhadei and other waters flowing into Goa from Maharashtra and Karnataka; destruction of groundwater aquifers and recharge areas especially plateaus and hill slopes for speculative greed of real estate lobbies and unsustainable industries; rising sea levels and the increased salinity ingress along our coast; grabbing of local water resources by water guzzling industries, mega projects and starred hotels; pollution of springs, ponds, lakes and rivers due to urbanisation and polluting industries, all of which are a result of suicidal policies of the government.
The numerous agitations and protests across the State against real estate speculation, Regional Plan, land use changes, government projects, etc, are in fact rooted in the water crises that ordinary citizens can foresee, but the government, blinded by greed, cannot.
The situation is extremely bleak for Goans since the water scarcity, destruction of water resources, and diversion of water from local communities to profit-seeking corporations is increasing every day, thanks to anti-people government, the speaker said.
