Team Herald
AMONA, SANKHALI: Save Mhadei Save Goa meeting proved to be a suiting tribute to the Opinion Poll Day anniversary as 10,000 sons of soil from all over Goa joined hands to stop the plunder of the lifeline of Goa- River Mhadei. The meeting has resolved to demand that the Government of Goa not allow the diversion or sharing of Mhadei water and also demanded that the government shouldn’t fall prey to any pressures.
MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Venzy Viegas, Yuri Alemao, Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Altone D’Costa, Cruz Silva, AAP leader Amit Palekar, NCP Leader Jose Philip D’Souza, Shiv Sena leader Jitesh Kamat, TMC leader Kirti Azad and others were present at the meeting among various others.
While requesting all the MLAs and the people of Goa not to treat the Mhadei issue politically, Rajendra Kerkar said, “All these years we have finished our water resources on our own. Eight rivers of Goa are today in the list of most polluted rivers of India. Until these discussions are not held in Goa Legislative Assembly nothing will change.”
“I have quit my teaching job and given myself to protection of environment. Let’s start the movement to save the existence of all the rivers on this auspicious Opinion Poll Day,” he added.
“All the MLAs have to study the matter. MLAs never came when I called them to educate and inform regarding Mhadei. If we don’t have information of our State, its environment heritage and Mhadei, we will not be able to save it,” Kerkar said.
Mhadei activist and historian Prajal Sakhardande said, “Half of Goa gets its water from Mhadei. People of six talukas drink water from River Mhadei. We have to tell the Centre that gave approval for the diversion that we will never let them divert and take a single drop of our River Mhadei water. We cannot even allow sharing on humanitarian grounds because diverting water for one Dharwad district is humanitarian than what about the six talukas and two districts of Goa who will lose water and livelihoods?”
Dnyanpeeth Awardee writer Damodar alias Bhai Mauzo looking at the crowd said, “With this kind of support our win is not too far.”
Olencio Simoes of GRE said, “This government has for the last seven years only planned to destroy Goa. Stage by stage the government has raped the State of its resources. This diversion of water is for Northern Karnataka steel plants while Niti Aayog itself says that two lakh people die due to water scarcity. This is it, like the uprising in Sri Lanka, we, Goans need to have another Opinion Poll and uprising to save Goa and Mhadei.”
Govind Shirodkar, GAKUVED spokesperson said, “There is an unwritten rule of nature that no one can or should stop the flow of water. Government of Goa reportedly spent Rs 160 crore for advocates’ fees. What did we get?”
Datta Naik said, “Narendra Modi and BJP are fond of building bridges. But I want to tell remind them that if this continues there won’t be any water beneath the bridges you have built.”
Rajesh Sawal, Chairperson of Sankhali Municipal Council said, “Asmitai dis brings renewed strength for us Goans every year. But no one imagined that it will bring such a big challenge before us. We won’t have water to drink if we lose Mhadei and will be left begging for it.”
GFP President Vijai Sardesai said, “I will resign if need be to save river Mhadei. Let’s create a constitutional crisis by resigning all. Resign and hand over power to the one who can handle the issue if you cannot.”
“When political class fails, people have to wake up and start an organic movement. If the DPR is not withdrawn within 15 days we shut down the State,” he said. “Sawant claims that the Government which was in power in 2007 to 2012 sold Mhadei. The ones who were in that government are part of this government too,” Vijai reminded.
Activist Xencor Polgi questioned, “This is a meeting not political. Our Chief Minister claims he is in the fight to save Mhadei since 1998. Why are you not here today?”
Kannada Dhangar Samaj, Goa president Sharan Meti said, “We will fully support Goa State for saving Mhadei. I will put up a case for Goa before the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,” he said.
Hrudaynath Shirodkar, Convenor of Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front said, “Our water is our right and we won’t even share our water. Half of Goa will be begging for water if the diversion is affected. We today question all the MLAs why they are absent and not supporting this cause. We will not stand and support the political representatives who are not standing with us today.”
Activist Rama Kankonkar said, “This is the second Opinion poll and today our Mother Mhadei is in trouble. This is a fight of Goans to save Goans,” he said.
Canacona-based grassroots leader Prashant Naik said, “When the matter is sub judice, three States are against the award then how was the DPR passed? Let’s take the Mhadei battle to the doorsteps of the ones who betrayed and make sure the voice reaches the heads of the country,” he said.
