Team Herald
PORVORIM: As the Opposition cornered the State government on the controversial statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Mhadei river diversion issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant contended that he never gave any consent to divert Mhadei river water to Karnataka nor will he give in future. He, however, hastened to clarify that he did not mean that the Union Minister lied to the public of Karnataka in view of the upcoming State Assembly elections there.
During an election rally in Belagavi district, Amit Shah had said that the Mhadei river diversion issue was resolved by both the States – Goa and Karnataka.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva, Goa Forward MLA and Congress MLAs on Tuesday attacked Sawant over Shah’s statement questioning him whether whatever Union Minister said was correct or wrong, to which Sawant replied, “We have not given consent of Mhadei diversion and will never give it.”
Reacting to it Fatorda MLA said, “This means the Chief Minister admits that the Union Home Minister has lied. This is what he said now.”
However, the Chief Minister hurriedly clarified that he didn’t say that. “I have not said as such,” he told the House.
Sawant informed the State Assembly that Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have submitted a detailed inspection report, as directed, to the Supreme Court in a sealed document and the same would be opened during the next hearing, scheduled in July. “Our team has given a detailed report on diversion undertaken by Karnataka between 2007 and 2012 along with photographs and other data,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that the Mhadei Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH), approved by the cabinet will be notified after the ongoing Parliament session. He said that the State has requested that PRAWAH office be situated in Panjim.
Earlier, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar said, “In view of elections (in Karnataka) anyone can speak anything…we have nothing to do with it. We are working to protect Mhadei and oppose diversion.”
Shirodkar informed the House that Karnataka State Council has made a clear-cut commitment in the Supreme Court that no construction will be carried out (for water diversion). “This matter is sub-judice. Secondly, they have to take permission from various authorities, among one major is Wildlife Warden of Goa,” Shirodkar said.
Earlier, AAP MLA Cruz said that Karnataka has done violations and the activities are on the Karnataka side to lift water using pumps. He questioned the government’s failure to challenge the permission granted to the DPR. “The Goa government wakes up only when the media brings violations to notice,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira urged the government to press for urgency to hear the Mhadei matter in the Supreme Court and also sought to know the scope of the authority – PRAWAH.
