Team Herald
MARGAO/VASCO/PONDA: The villages in Goa have raised their voices against attempt to divert Mhadei waters by Karnataka as it would prove disastrous and damage the ecology of the State.
The gram sabhas of four village panchayats namely Dramapur-Sirlim, Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim, Velsao-Pale-Issorcim and Bethorda on Sunday passed resolutions opposing the diversion of Mhadei waters.
Dramapur-Sirlim
gram sabha opposes Mhadei diversion
The Dramapur-Sirlim gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Avita Pereira also resolved to oppose the coal handling at the Mormugao Port.
Panchayat member Domnic Noronha tabled the resolution opposing diversion of Mhadei River or any of its tributaries and it was seconded by Francisco Dias of Comunidade of Dramapur.
The gram sabha members said that the diversion of Mhadei waters to Malaprabha river is not for drinking or irrigation purpose of residents of Karnataka, but to meet the needs of large number of steel plants within Malaprabha river basin proposed under the Sagarmala Programme.
The meeting further resolved that the resolution be forwarded to the Forest Department, State government and other authorities for its immediate implementation.
Taking serious note of the increasing number of crimes, the gram sabha members also resolved to start a tenant verification drive in the village.
Bethora gram sabha turns stormy,
Amit Shah’s statement
on Mhadei flayed
The recent statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Mhadei water diversion evoked sharp protest at the Bethora gram sabha on Sunday with members demanding that the pnachayat should not to grant NOCs to non-Goans seeking water connections.
Sarpanch Umesh Gaude and panchayat secretary Vinod Shetkar initially refused to be part of such a controversial resolution but had to give in to the aggressive stance of the villagers.
Another resolution strongly condemning Amit Shah’s recent statement during a public meeting at Belagavi that the decision to divert Mhadei waters was arrived at after taking the Goa government into confidence, was also passed.
The gram sabha also demanded that the panchayat revoke NOC granted to a liquor shop at Mankatemal, Nirankal by the previous body. Subsequently a resolution in this regard was also passed even as the gram sabha in the past had refused to do so.
Speeding trains, coal pollution and Mhadei
diversion, all opposed
by Velsao, Cansaulim gram sabhas
After vehemently opposing railway double tracking, coal handling the Velsao villagers on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution opposing any attempt by Karnataka to divert Mhadei waters.
Similar resolution was also passed by the neighbouring Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim village panchayat.
Velsao-Pale-Issorcim Sarpanch Diana Goveira said that a resolution opposing the diversion of Mhadei waters was passed as well as it was decided to challenge Railways claim regarding land rights before the Court.
Another resolution demanding to reduce the speed of trains from 100 kmph to 40 kmph and also to ban the trains from honking in the village jurisdiction as it disturbs the sleep of the locals.
Cansaulim-Arossim-Issorcim Sarpanch Savio Pereira too informed that the Mhadei’s diversion was opposed in the gram sabha held on Sunday.
Villager Olencio Simoes raised questions on issues such as coal transportation, decision to enhance coal handling at Mormugao port and Mhadei River.
