Mhadei front to challenge Kalasa-Bandura project report in Supreme Court

PANJIM: Alleging that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant government is leading the State towards disaster by not acting in a manner most needed to protect River Mhadei, the Save Mhadei Save Goa Front has demanded that the government should challenge the action of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in approving the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Kalasa-Bandura project, which now includes Surla nallah, by Karnataka.

Save Mhadei Save Goa Front convenor Adv Hrudaynath Shirodkar demanded that the State government should submit report to the Monitoring Committee to ensure that all violations are brought to the notice of the Supreme Court.

Adv Shirodkar further demanded the immediate removal of Water Resources chief engineer Pramod Badami, who he alleged, is being given extension several times and whose roots and interests is in North Karnataka and who cannot give justice as far as Mhadei Water Dispute is concerned.

Referring to Monday’s hearing in the Supreme Court, Adv Shirodkar said, “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claiming to have won is just a lie. Tell the Goans whether you are challenging the DPR or not. Challenge the order of the Supreme Court immediately and provide people of Goa relief and save Mhadei.”

According to Adv Shirodkar, following an inspection in April 2021, the State government was asked to file report, but till recent the government did not file the inspection report before the Apex Court Now, the government is repeating the same and it is not filing objection to the revised DPR submitted by Karnataka, claiming that it does not have a copy. This is nothing, but an attempt to help Karnataka divert Mhadei waters to serve the interests of the steel lobby, he charged.

When asked about the next course of action, Adv Shirodkar said, “We are thinking on the lines of filing an intervention application before the Supreme Court and are discussing the same with lawyers. As the people have lent their support to our agitation so far, I am sure they will also help us in fighting the case before the Apex Court,” he added.