MARGAO: After the village panchayat of Chinchinim-Deussua, the Margao Municipal Council has now resolved to save the Mhadei river. The councillors resolved to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Central government authorities to withdraw the approval given to Karnataka’s Detailed Project report (DPR) for the diversion of the Mhadei’s waters through the Kalasa-Bhandura project.

The issue was discussed at a special meeting held on Friday, during which tempers flared between BJP councillor Camilo Baretto and Goa Forward Party councillor Pooja Naik. Both councillors took on each other when Baretto alleged that GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai did not do anything for the Mhadei during his tenure as a Minister.

Naik, along with a few other councillors from the GFP camp responded that their party and MLA have been fighting to save the river for a very long time.

Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar said that the civic body will not indulge in any politics over the Mhadei issue and appealed to the city fathers not to make the matter political, but to unite and fight to save the ‘lifeline of Goa’.

He added that a copy of the council’s resolution will be sent to the Chief Minister of Goa, and to the Prime Minister and Jal Shakti Ministry, to withdraw the approval given to Karnataka’s DPR by the Central Water Commission in the interest of maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, the forest wealth, flora, wildlife and environment of Goa.

Several councillors including Ghanashyam Shirodkar, Mahesh Amonkar, Pooja Naik and Johnny Crasto supported the resolution.