Goa’s environmental activists have strongly opposed Union Minister Prahlad Joshi’s suggestion that Karnataka withdraw its petitions in the Supreme Court to speed up approvals for the Kalasa-Bhanduri project. Prominent activist Rajendra Kerkar said bypassing the judicial process would weaken Goa’s legal position and pose a serious threat to the state’s ecological balance and drinking water security. He pointed out that more than 43% of Goa’s population depends on the Mhadei River for drinking water and irrigation, making its protection a matter of public interest. Environmental groups have urged the Mhadei PRAWAH Authority and the Central Government to conduct mandatory joint ground inspections along the Kalasa-Kankumbi border before considering any approvals, insisting that scientific assessment and legal scrutiny cannot be overlooked.
Mhadei Dispute: Environmentalists Oppose Any Move to Bypass Supreme Court Process
