Team Herald
PANJIM: Members cutting across party lines in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday vehemently objected to the diversion of the Mhadei waters and demanded that the Centre should withdraw the approval granted to Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kalasa-Bandura dam projects.
The resolution which was tabled by Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira was converted into a government resolution by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
All the Ministers and MLAs voiced their views expressing concern over Karnataka’s designs to divert the Mhadei waters and demanded that the government take all legal steps to stop Karnataka’s plans.
Expressing serious apprehensions about the approval given to the DPR of Karnataka by the Central Water Commission (CWC) last month, the Members demanded that the DPR be withdrawn and that the Mhadei Water Management Authority be constituted immediately, with its office in the State.
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane called upon the opposition members not to politicise the Mhadei issue. “As Goans, all should be concerned and stand up unitedly to oppose Karnataka’s moves to divert the waters. Sattari taluka and Bicholim taluka would be adversely affected if the water is diverted,” said the Minister. He said that any attempt to politicize the issue would hamper Goa’s interests.
Rane also brought to the notice of the House the latest statement made by former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddharmaiah that the Congress, if voted to power in Karnataka, would spend Rs 4,000 crore within two years to construct the Kalasa-Bandura dam projects and divert water. He said that though it also appears to be an election plank, the State government will take all measures to protect the Mhadei river.
Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate said that the Mhadei river is Goa’s lifeline and its diversion will affect human life. She said that Goa is facing acute water shortage and diversion will be catastrophic. She said that Karnataka’s claim is far from reality and the water diversion is mostly to cater to industrial activity in Karnataka.
All the Members stated that they are united and that the government should send a strong message to the Centre that Goa will not allow Karnataka to divert the waters at any cost. They said that if water is diverted, it will cause irreparable damage to ecology, environment and flora and fauna.
Some members also demanded that Karnataka tap its own resources rather than diverting water from the deficit Mhadei basin to the surplus Malaprabha basin. They also complained that Karnataka had gone ahead and built canals without obtaining necessary permissions like Environmental Clearances (ECs) from the authorities.
