Team Herald
PANJIM: The issue of Mhadei waters diversion echoed in several gram sabhas across the State on Sunday strongly condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his statement that the Centre has permitted Karnataka to divert Mhadei waters and resolved to foil Karnataka’s sinister designs.
The gram sabha of Keri in Sattari, Korgao in Pernem, Siolim-Oxel and Penha Da Franca in Bardez, Chicalim in Mormugao and Camurlim in Salcete talukas condemned the statement made by Amit Shah over Mhadei diversion and passed unanimous resolutions opposing any move to divert Mhadei waters.
The Keri gram sabha held under chairmanship of Sarpanch Diksha Gawas condemned the Karnataka’s plans and shouted slogans. They further resolved to hold hunger strike if required but not to allow the neighbouring State to divert waters at all costs.
The gram sabha later constituted a committee under sarpanch Diksha Gawas, deputy sarpanch Bhiva Gawas and 10 others, which will take all measures to protect Mhadei River and conserve ecology.
The Camurlim gram sabha also passed a resolution condemning the statement of Union Home Minister.
Sarpanch Basil Fernandes said that the Goa government should condemn the statement and demand withdrawal of Karnataka DPR approved by Central Water Commission.
The gram sabha of Penha da Franca rocked on two issues and passed resolutions, one opposing any attempt by Karnataka to divert Mhadei waters and to oppose any move to include the village in the Panjim Outline Development Plan (ODP).
The gram sabha members condemned the recent statement made by Amit Shah that the Centre resolved the long pending dispute between Goa and Karnataka by permitting the latter to divert Mhadei waters. The meeting demanded that copies of both the resolutions be sent to the government for appropriate action.
The gram sabha members passed another resolution demanding that the recent decision of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department to include the Penha Da Franca village in the Panjim ODP be dropped in the interest of the village.
The Chicalim gram sabha passed a resolution opposing any move to divert Mhadei waters.
Former sarpanch Pratap Mardolkar said that the future of the tiny State was at stake if the Mhadei waters are allowed to be diverted by Karnataka.
Sarpanch Kamla Prasad Yadav too said that Mhadei River is the lifeline of the people of Goa and that it should be protected.
The Korgao gram sabha also condemned the Union Home Minister’s statement.
The gram sabha unanimously passed resolution proposed by former sarpanch Sudip Korgaonkar demanding that the Goa government should oppose any attempt by Karnataka to divert Mhadei water and demand immediate withdraw of approval granted to Karnataka’s DPR for Kalasa-Bandura project.
The Goa Forward Party has written to Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar, urging him to convene an urgent meeting of the House Committee on Mhadei and to ask Chief Minister to appear before it due to Home Minister’s statement to Centre has allowed Karnataka to divert Mhadei waters by taking Goa government into confidence.
