PANJIM: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his appointment for an all-party delegation to meet him to discuss the contentious issue of Mhadei water diversion.
Addressing media persons on Thursday, MGP MLA Ramakrishna Dhavalikar said that he has emailed a letter to Prime Minister’s Office on March 16, pleading for his intervention in protecting the interest of Goa in Mhadei matter.
“Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has completely failed in protecting the interest of Goa and resolving Mhadei issue. I have written to the Prime Minister seeking his help in the case,” Dhavalikar said.
Former deputy CM said that he has approached Prime Minister for appointment to all-party delegation, comprising of BJP, Congress, MGP and Goa Forward Party (GFP), along with Union Minister for Ayush Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, to discuss and put across facts related to Mhadei.
“I have also urged Prime Minister to immediately appoint a committee headed by retired Judge, with representation to all party, Central and State government and environmental expert, to inspect the site to ascertain the violations undertaken by Karnataka in contempt of Supreme Court order,” he added.
Dhavalikar said he has brought to the notice of Prime Minister that the diversion of Mhadei River will have adverse impact on Goa’s ecology and drinking water availability.
He has also said that the case put up by Karnataka that the diversion is to fulfil the drinking water requirement of people from Dhargal and Hubali, is false and it is revealed that the same is for agriculture purpose.
“Karnataka has acted with ulterior motive. They have no reason to disturb the Mhadei tributary which is perennial and main source of raw potable water for Goa for decades,” Dhavalikar said quoting the letter.
He said that diversion of Mhadei River will have ecological imbalance.
Chief Minister Sawant had recently called on Prime Minister for his intervention in protecting Mhadei River.
