House to hold special discussion on contentious Mhadei issue on Jan 19

PANJIM: The Goa Legislative Assembly will hold a special discussion on the last day of the winter session on January 19 on the contentious Mhadei River diversion issue. The State government will move a motion in this regard.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) on Monday held its meeting under the chairmanship of the Speaker. The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Legislative Affairs Minister Nilesh Cabral, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and other legislative party leaders such as Vijai Sardesai (GFP), Venzy Viegas (AAP) and Viresh Borkar (RG).

During the meeting, the Opposition MLAs from the Congress and Goa Forward Party submitted letters demanding a special one-day discussion in the House on Mhadei River diversion. The Opposition also requested the Speaker to take corrective steps to ensure an extended session and allocation of opportunities to them to raise issues concerning Goa.

The winter session of the State Assembly is scheduled from January 16 to 19. The session will begin with an address by Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai.

Speaking to mediapersons after the BAC meeting, the Chief Minister said that the Speaker has agreed to hold a special discussion on Mhadei on January 19. He said that the State government has submitted a letter in this regard and a motion will be moved on that very day.

“We are very much concerned about the protection of River Mhadei. Every MLA will be given an opportunity to speak on the issue,” he said.

Sawant justified the decision to hold only a four-day session. “The winter session is always short. A full-fledged Budget session will be conducted for 21 days,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a letter, Yuri Alemao demanded that adequate time be allotted to opposition MLAs for discussion on Mhadei.

“I demand that the duration of the House be extended by two to three weeks. I also urge the Speaker to ensure that the replies to the Assembly Questions are provided 48 hours in advance apart from withdrawal of the bulletin restricting information to only five years,” Alemao requested.

Vijai Sardesai in his letter said that the Mhadei issue was “the single-most burning matter of discussion” in Goa.

“The people of Goa, understandably, are anxious and apprehensive, and have a right to know the truth behind the entire episode, and also the government’s further plan of action to save Mhadei,” the GFP leader stated.