Goa should have used the Wildlife Protection Act to defend Mhadei: Kerkar

Avit Bagle

PANJIM: Noted environmentalist and crusader for the Mhadei river, Rajendra Kerkar has crucially pointed out that the Wild life Protection Act 1972 was enough to save Goa and Mhadei.

In an exclusive conversation with Herald TV, Kerkar said, “The Goa government could have stated how the wildlife sanctuaries of Bondla, Mahavir, Mhadei, Mollem and part of Netravali exist because of the Mhadei river’s natural flow. If the Goa government had explained this through its lawyers to the Supreme Court and the Centre, the decision would have favoured us. But the government was too worried about mining ores in the State. In India, wherever there are rich wildlife and water resources, there are minerals.”

In an important observation, Kerkar said that the decision not to safeguard Goa’s water resources, especially Mhadei, is linked with Goa’s interest in promoting mining activity. 

“Instead of safeguarding State’s future and its water resources, the Goa government had its eyes on the minerals. And now we do not have an option other than to accept the decision given by the Tribunal. And if we do not want to accept this decision, then we will have to strengthen our fight in the Supreme Court.”

However, there was a need to have documented proof that Goa was indeed a water deficit State. But those efforts were never made post-Liberation. 

“In 1998 the master plan was made regarding the Goan rivers. It took us decades since the Liberation to come up with the master plan. We were able to explain to the Tribunal the usage of the river’s water based on that master plan,” he said.

Kerkar said that it is no surprise that a particular State government will obviously give preference to solving the issues faced by the locals. 

“The BJP leaders from Maharashtra will look after their people, while the BJP in Karnataka will safeguard its people’s needs. When Shashikala Kakodkar was chief minister of Goa, a union territory then, raised its voice against the Katla-Palna project in 1973 and also got the NIO to conduct a study,” he said.

Also, her successors continued to oppose the project with the help of NIO scientists, which led to the Centre eventually shelving the project. 

“This Kalsa-Bhandura project is also being executed by Karnataka. If we had that kind of expertise today, then Goa’s water sources such as Mhadei would have been protected,” Kerkar rounded off.

(Two part series Concluded)