Team Herald
PORVORIM: The much debated and burning issue of Mhadei River diversion found no place in the Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai’s customary address to the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, even as the Opposition created ruckus and tried to disrupt his address demanding clarification on the ongoing contentious issue.
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The six opposition MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, were marshalled out of the Assembly as they tried to disrupt the governor`s address during the first day of the winter session on Monday over the Mhadei diversion issue. Alemao along with Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai, AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Congress MLAs Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Altone D`Costa were demanding that Governor should first speak on Mhadei and not the government programmes.
The Opposition MLAs, wearing black outfits, with placards in their hands with `Save Mhadei` ‘Withdraw DPR’ message and slogan ‘Amchi Mhadei Amka Jay’ went into the well of the House and reiterated their demand that the governor should speak on Mhadei. However, their demand was not fulfilled and they were moved out of the Assembly House by marshals, while the Governor continued with his address.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said that their only demand is that the Governor should make his statement on the Mhadei river. He said that the Governor should clarify the House if the approval granted to the DPR is withdrawn by the Centre and if not the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should resign for failing to protect the river.
Speaking to media persons outside Assembly, Alemao said that they had demanded that the governor should first speak on the Mhadei diversion issue as it is important.
“Aren’t the 33 MLAs in power using Mhadei water? They should resign if they can`t resolve the Mhadei issue. This government is not interested in resolving issues pertaining to the peoples` welfare,” he said.
He further questioned
why double engine sarkar has derailed? And that the Central Government only wants the benefit of Karnataka as they need more seats in Karnataka.
GFP President and MLA Vijai Sardesai said that they wanted the Governor to express his opinion on the Mhadei issue first and not the government speech. “Mhadei movement is of peoples` movement. We are supporting this movement. The governor should have expressed his opinion over Mhadei,” Sardesai said.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that today DPR is approved and in 2024, Goa government will say we have lost the battle in the Supreme Court.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that the opposition parties are trying to take mileage over Mhadei river. “We have to win Mhadei battle in Supreme Court and I request opposition to suggest good lawyers to represent Goa.” He said adding that what is happening was nothing but drama.
