Team Herald
PANJIM: Terming Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s letter to Karnataka BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa for talks on releasing drinking water from Mhadei river to Karnataka as suspicious, activists from various NGOs on Monday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the letter.
The NGOs also questioned the Chief Minister’s motive behind changing the government’s stand on the Mhadei water issue and appealed to all local bodies to pass a resolution against this decision.
Addressing the media, Aami Goynkar Convenor Advocate S N Joshi said, “While the dispute has been pending at the Mhadei Tribunal, Karnataka has gone ahead and done excavation work spending Rs 350 crore to make a canal to divert water. This shows that Karnataka is not abiding by the law.”
He added, “Parrikar’s letter is contrary to the stand taken by the CM in 2012 wherein he had clearly said that Goa will oppose this even if there is pressure from the Central government and no compromise shall be done on the issue. What is the wisdom which prevailed upon the Chief Minister to change the stand in such a hurry, when the final verdict is about to come?”
He further said that currently more than half of Goa is dependent on River Mhadei for their drinking water and for other purposes. Panjim, he pointed out, is totally dependent on this river’s water and if the Goa government agrees to the diversion of water as demanded by Karnataka, then the State will be in deep trouble.
“We do not understand why the stand has changed in such a hurry. Records reveal that sugarcane production in Karnataka had multiplied 12 times and the amount of water needed for such plantation is huge. We have opposed diversion on these grounds because we have our needs.” he said.
In view of the current issue, NGOs in a special meeting on Monday demanded that the Chief Minister immediately withdraw the letter to Yeddyurappa.
“All political parties should declare their policy and stand on this issue as early as possible. All 40 MLAs should declare their individual stand on this issue, and most importantly the Goa government should wait for the judgement of the tribunal,” the NGOs demanded.
Advocate Joshi further added that every citizen was entitled to know the reason of why the government had changed it stand as it is learnt that the tribunal is in the process of writing the final verdict.
“Keeping the above information in mind we do not understand why the government has changed its stand on this critical issue in such a hurried manner. This act of the Chief Minister is completely suspicious,” he said.
NGOs have also resolved to conduct meetings in a bid to create awareness among the people about the issue. Also corner meetings, along with mass agitation and a signature campaign, will be held “We urge the local bodies to pass resolution against this decision of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar,” NGOs said.
