Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa is a water-deficit State and diversion of its water could prove to be disastrous, possibly resulting in migration, said Rajendra Kerkar speaking to students at the Damodar Vidhya Bhuvan on Wednesday.
He pointed out that the Mandovi river, drains six talukas of Goa with the southernmost talukas being Dharbandora and asserted that diverting its water would increase the salinity, which would adversely affect the vegetation along its banks.
Pointing that 43 per cent of Goa’s population depended on Mandovi for drinking water, he said diverting its waters may force people to migrate to other areas where drinking water is available or Goa would have to resort to conserving water, including rain water harvesting.
He referred to a study undertaken by the National Institute of Oceanography in 2009 which established that flushing with fresh water was required to keep the Mandovi, also known as Mhadei, thriving.
The Mhadei originates in Degao village in Karnataka and after flowing through Maharashtra, enters Goa to meet the Arabian Sea at Aguada.
He showed pictures of rare flora and fauna found in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, including three animals that were not known to science till they were found in the basin. He said 11 tigers have been spotted in the sanctuary.
“Karnataka is actually seeking to divert 7.56 TMC of water claiming it is required for drinking purpose when in reality they are seeking that water to irrigate the sugarcane plantations it has started,” he said.
He said Karnataka proposes to construct 12 dams to divert the water from Mhadei, adding that Karnataka has already constructed the inter-linking canals that will take the water 150 kms away and said that is the reason why Goa had to approach the water tribunal to protect its interest and was hopeful that the tribunal order would come in favour of Goa.
While on the one hand Karnataka is seeking to divert the water, Maharashtra has completed 80 per cent of the works on the Virdi dam which will again reduce the amount of water coming to Goa.
“Karnataka and Maharashtra have not taken any permission from the central government as required for the work they have done in wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas,” Rajendra said.
He also lamented that most of the rivers in Goa are polluted.
