Team Herald

PANJIM: Marred by criticism from all corners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Goa on Monday made its stance clear that it is not going to compromise on the Mhadei issue, adding that it will unitedly fight the Centre and Karnataka to ensure that no injustice is done to Goa and Goans.

On Monday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “We have never given up on the Mhadei issue and we will not compromise.”

Sawant on Monday called for a special cabinet meeting to discuss the Mhadei issue. The meeting resolved to write to the Centre demanding immediate withdrawal of the permission granted to Karnataka and to constitute Mhadei Water Management Authority to stop the illegal diversion of water by Karnataka.

Addressing media persons post meeting, Sawant said that the State government is very serious on the issue and there will be no compromise. “We are not going to compromise on the Mhadei issue. We have never given up. We have been continuously monitoring the matter. We all are united to fight against Centre and Karnataka to see that injustice is not done to Goa and its people,” he said.

Sawant along with WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat demanding immediate revocation of the approval granted by Central Water Commission (CWC) approved Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for Kalasa-Bhandura water diversion project.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Power Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar were not present for the meeting. Rane had informed the Chief Minister that he won’t be able to attend the meeting as he is out of station.

The CM said that the cabinet deliberated on a strategy to fight the battle against diversion of River Mhadei by Karnataka. He said that the State has decided to continue fighting the Mhadei battle in the Supreme Court, which will hear the matter on January 5.

The cabinet resolved to continue fighting the battle in the Supreme Court against out of the basin diversion of River Mhadei, Sawant said, adding that the State has challenged the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) Award of granting 3.9 TMC of water to Karnataka. The award has been challenged by Goa, Karnataka as well as Maharashtra for various State specific reasons.

The Chief Minister said that he along with WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar will call on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Jal Shakti Minister with a cabinet decision demanding revocation of CWC’s approval for Karnataka’s DPR at the earliest.

“We will bring to the notice of the Centre, how Karnataka’s water project on Kalasa-Bhandura will have cascading impact on wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife, flora and fauna and drinking water requirement,” he said.

During the visit, the State will also press for formation of Water Management Authority (WMA) at the earliest to keep a check on illegal diversion of water and other works done by Karnataka. Centre will be asked to formulate the WMA committee within next 8 to 10 days, having representatives from each of the three riparian States that is Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka and two from the Central government.

He said once WMA is formed, all DPRs also will have to be routed through WMA keeping a check on any illegalities. CM Sawant opined that formation of WMA will help in keeping a control over the destruction being carried out by Karnataka for the past 20 to 25 years.

“No diversion work is going on for now. Karnataka has done only survey work in the last two-and-half years in the area,” he said adding ‘approval to DPR is just technical clearance and Karnataka cannot undertake any work unless all other permissions including under Wildlife Protection Act are obtained’.

Union Jal Shakti Ministry will also be asked for a copy of the DPR submitted by Karnataka. Cabinet also decided to issue notices to Karnataka under Wildlife Protection Act.

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Not even Centre can permit K’taka to divert water from Mhadei River basin: AG

PANJIM: Advocate General Devidas Pangam on Monday said that no authority including the Central government can permit Karnataka to divert water from Mhadei River basin.

Speaking to media persons before briefing the cabinet members, Pangam said that the State government plans to agitate against the issue of violation of Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act very seriously as under the Act, no water outside the wildlife purpose can be diverted.

“Our view is that no water from Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary can be diverted at all in law. No authority can permit it including the Central government,” Pangam said.

He explained that the Central Water Commission (CWC) approval for DPR submitted by Karnataka is just technical clearance from the point of view of water management and it is subject to several other permissions including that from Chief Wildlife Warden.

“As per law, even the Chief Wildlife Warden cannot grant such permission in case of Mhadei water as it will amount to diversion of water for purposes other than the wildlife sanctuary,” he said adding that this a strong point in favour of Goa.

“Based on DPR only, Karnataka cannot start any work. We are taking all steps to ensure that no diversion of water takes place in terms of Kalsa Bhandura rivulets,” he added further.

Pangam said that the State will raise the issue with all Central government authorities on all fronts and also before the Supreme Court, which is hearing the contempt plea against Karnataka and also PIL challenging the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) award.

He said that the State has sought a copy of DPR to understand as to what is being approved by the technical team of CWC.

The State Government had earlier written to Karnataka demanding that they be given a copy of all communication to the Centre such as letters, DPR, etc, with regards to Mhadei River. Despite this Karnataka has not given the DPR to Goa, he said.

Goa BJP to take on Centre to ensure that no injustice is done to Goa & Goans

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