Panjim/Margao: The gram sabhas of Chimbel, Cavelossim and Carmona once again opposed the diversion of River Mhadei and passed resolutions demanding that the government declare to protect the river, which is the lifeline of the State and its people.

The Chimbel gram sabha unanimously passed a resolution opposing Karnataka’s revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) which intends to divert the Mhadei river. The gram sabha also brought to the attention of the people that State government delayed in filing a petition to challenge the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) approval to the DPR.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar addressed the members of gram sabha where he spoke about implications of Mhadei water diversion and the possible solution to the issue.

“The government needs to take urgent steps to demarcate tiger protected areas and while doing that, need to carefully omit residential properties, cultivable land and owned properties,” said Chimbel BMC’s president Govind Shirodkar.

Expressing disappointment over the steps taken so far by the Goa government in the Mhadei matter, the gram sabha members lamented that Goa’s case is weakening before the Courts as the government has failed to present the report on utilization of Mhadei water by the people of Goa.

The members of Gram Sabha cautioned the State not to pin hopes on the central government to resolve the Mhadei dispute.