Team Herald
PONDA: Mhadei Bhachao Andolan (MBA) on Friday accused the State of cheating Goans over Mhadei diversion issue for political gains.
Addressing a meeting at Dada Vaidya Chowk in Ponda, MBA coordinator Subash Velingkar said, “Karnataka doesn’t need water for drinking; they are diverting water for sugarcane production for 80 factories and the government is betraying the Goans by becoming silent spectators.”
He alleged that Goan MLAs and ministers are sacrificing the interests of Goans for political gains. “They should be sent home in next election,” he urged.
Velingkar warned that MBA would intensify agitation and make it difficult for the Pramod Sawant-led State government to run its affairs if consent for Mhadei water diversion is not withdrawn.
“This is our symbolic talauka awareness protest meeting and soon we will intensify it and will convert into major agitation that will show the politicians the door for sacrificing Mhadei interest for party interest. There is no doubt about it,” he warned.
He said that initially 10 organisations supported the MBA, and now 170 are supporting them; and even the comunidades in Goa supported the agitation. He called upon the 192 panchayats in Goa to support the Mhadei agitation.
“If the Goans want water for drinking and save Goa from becoming desert then all the Goans in the 192 panchayats should immediately pass resolutions against diversion of Mhadei water,” he urged.
Velingkar accused the CM of misleading Goans by saying that he would not allow diversion of a single drop of water. “If the diversion is for drinking, Karnataka would have installed pipelines. Instead, they dug up huge canals for diversion of Mhadei water and our CM is intentionally fooling Goans for party political interest,” he said.
