PANJIM: The Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), that spearheaded the fight
against Karnataka government’s move to divert 56tmc of water from River Mhadei,
has strongly objected Central Government’s move to set up a single, permanent
Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunal (ISWDT) subsuming existing tribunals,
stating that ‘Goa’s battle will be lost’.
The MBA has urged its secretary environmentalist Rajendra
Kerkar to place the Mhadei water diversion case with its impact on environment
and ecology before the National Wildlife Board (NWB) headed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, where former is also one of the members.
Addressing media persons on Thursday, MBA President Nirmala
Sawant said that Centre decision to form a common inter-state water dispute
tribunal, thereby dissolving the existing Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT),
will spell doom for Goa. “We strongly oppose Centre’s move. If a common
tribunal is formed, then Goa will have no case left,” she said.
MWDT constituted in 2010 involving Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra on the
water diversion issue, has been granted one year extension till
August, this year.
Pinning hope on Supreme Court for respite, Sawant
informed that on April 13, Court will open the report drafted by Central
Empowered Committee (CEC) in 2009 that reviewed the environmental aspect of the
work of the Kalsa canal by Karnataka in Kankumbi- giving clear picture of kind
of violations committed by Karnataka from 2009 till date.
“CEC had video graphed the entire site
during their visit in February 2009. That will help us to prove the violations
done by Karnataka in form of environmental and ecological destruction,” she
said.
MBA had approached SC in 2007 challenging
Karnataka government project on the environmental ground and had pointed out
that the project is been undertaken without obtaining Environmental Clearance
(EC) from Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF). Court in its latest
order as asked MoEF to submit report on the environmental damage caused due to
the project.
MBA member Dr Nandakumar Kamat said that dissolution of MWDT
would be a major setback to the State, as it will have no case left and with
just three Member of Parliament it won’t be able to get any justice. “I urge
Kerkar to take up the matter before NWB,” he said.
Kamat accused government for failing to put a strong case
before Tribunal on the environmental and ecological front. “Western Ghat is in
the UNESCO heritage list. The habitat of wildlife will be destroyed. The
project is located just within 300 meters of protected areas of Mhadei Wildlife
Sanctuary. These points make a strong case,” he said adding diversion of water
will bring water scarcity to 185 villages.
MBA secretary Kerkar said that despite Tribunal order, the
work on Kalsa canal is on in full swing. He said that Karnataka government by
diverting the water flow of Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary is in violation of
Wildlife Protection Act 1975.
