PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that the State government will issue notice to its counterpart in Maharashtra directing him to immediately stop the ongoing construction work of Virdi Dam on the Valvanti River, which flows into Goa.
Speaking to media persons, Sawant also said that a detailed inquiry will be conducted into what all permissions have Maharashtra obtained to resume the construction of Virdi Dam.
The work was stopped in 2013 following directions from Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal.
“The notice is ready and same will be sent to Maharashtra today,” he said.
Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar on Sunday exposed the attempts of Maharashtra to resume works of dam at Virdi near Dodamarg, which is 3 km from the Goa border.
According to Kerkar, since Sunday morning, along with excavators, trucks, and labourers, Maharashtra officials were seen carrying out the work on the Virdi Dam across the Kattika nullah, a tributary of River Valvanti.
He also said that the construction work is underway without any valid permission, and that the matter of water sharing with Maharashtra is pending in the Supreme Court.
In 2006, Maharashtra first proposed the dam at a location just 500m away from Goa’s border. Goa agreed in-principle to the proposal on the condition that the water be utilised within the Mhadei basin and additional water be diverted to the Anjunem dam of Goa. However, without any intimation to Goa, Maharashtra changed the dam’s location and began the work.
The work of the project was stalled after Maharashtra assured the Tribunal that it will not go ahead with the construction till all permissions are obtained.
