Team Herald
PANJIM: Hinting at the fact that Karnataka’s proposed Mhadei diversion is basically to provide water for its sugarcane cultivation, Goa on Friday brought to the notice of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) that the Malaprabha basin witnessed a tremendous water scarcity allegedly due to drastic increase in the cultivation of sugarcane, which is a water guzzling crop.
Karnataka stood exposed before the Tribunal during the cross examination of its second witness A K Bajaj, when Goa pointed out to this decline in water yield.
Goa, through Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni, pointed out that the yield calculated in respect of the Malaprabha dam was 47.25 TMC, however, in 2009 it was sought to be revised to 27 TMC. “The alleged water scarcity was noticed precisely during the period when there was drastic increase in the cultivation of sugarcane, which is widely recognised as a water guzzling crop,” Nadkarni stated.
To reassert the magnitude and implications of such conflicting developments it was put to the witness that from 1979 to 1980 there were 224 Ha of land cultivated with sugarcane, whereas in the years 2009 to 2010 there was a phenomenal increase of sugarcane cultivation covering an approximate area of 3038 Ha, and in 2010-2011 it had gone up to 3421 ha.
The witness failed to justify the same and attempted to dodge the questions by giving evasive answers.
The witness was extensively cross examined on why he had failed to consider the various water requirements of Goa. It was put to the witness that as per his report, the estimation water requirement of Goa was wrong and incorrect as he had only relied upon the Master Plan of 1999 and the DPR’s on record. The cross examination will continue on Monday.
