CUNCOLIM: Rajendra Kerkar, a renowned environmentalist and the person who fought to save Mhadai River, said that “Mhadei is a great mother, our identity and cultural bondage which we have to protect by all means.”
He was delivering a power-point lecture on Mhadai River organised by Gomantak Vidyan Niketan, as a part o its monthly Dialogue Aswad.
Kerkar said Karnataka and Maharashtra violated all rules and norms of environment protection.
“It’s strange how a State can dare to change the flow of river!” Kerkar wondered.
“Karnataka wanted to divert Mahadei water to Kalsa Bhandura project. In fact, Karnataka wanted to built many dams on Mahadei River they had plans to build hydropower plant. We had forced Goa government and authorities to act against Karnataka’s destructive agenda. Karnataka has violated all rules and laws and bulldoze the natural beauty of Mahadei region. Goa government has challenged Karnataka project in the Tribunal and we have already won the first battle. But it is not easy; you require both money and political pressure to win this battle,” said Kerkar.
“Karnataka contention to divert extra water which is not useful to Goa cannot stand. Mahadei River is a living river and if you divert the water of river, it will increase its salinity due to which the river will become a dead river,” Kerkar explained.
He appealed all Goans to stand united against Karnataka’s destructive motive. “It is not only Sattari which will suffer but six talukas of Goa will suffer if Karnataka succeeds in constructing a dam on River Mhadei. Mhadei is not only a river, but it’s also our mother and we have to protect the Mother River by all means,” Kerkar urged.
