Mhadei’s guardians ask how Goa’s ruling leaders can face people by campaigning in Karnataka

PANJIM:  The Earthivist Collective, the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) and the Save Mhadei Save Goa Front on Monday questioned how Chief Minister and other BJP State leaders have a face to canvass for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls in the wake of Mhadei water issue?

They have raised their voices against the manner in which Goa Chief Minister, ministers and even the North Goa MP have been campaigning for the Karnataka BJP for Assembly elections in the neighbouring State without giving any assurances regarding the Mhadei water dispute issue.

Pointing out that the Chief Minister was seen campaigning with Home Minister Amit Shah, the group asked the CM for failing to speak on the Mhadei issue or take on the Karnataka government on its handling of the entire water dispute.

Save Mhadei Save Goa Front leader Prashant Naik recalled how the Union Home minister had made a public statement in Karnataka stating that the water division issue was settled in favour of Karnataka and that Shah failed to talk about Mhadei when he was in Goa. Naik said this was the opportune moment for Goa’s BJP leadership to make its stance clear to both the State government and Centre and central BJP leadership.

In the wake of Karnataka’s bid to divert water from Goa’s lifeline – River Mhadei, which faces a threat, thousands of Goans are all set to form a seven-km-long human chain on May 20 to pray for the well-being of the river by celebrating “Mhadei Amchi Mai”, a community engagement festival.

Meanwhile, Earthivist Collective, in association with the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) and the Save Mhadei Save Goa Front has appealed to Mhadei’s children to become her guardians (rakhondars) by joining a community engagement festival called “Mhadei Amchi Mai”.

The community engagement festival is a creative celebration of the intrinsic and critical relationship between the river, the land and its people.

Miriam Koshy, founding member of the Earthivist Collective said that on May 20 at 4 pm a human prayer chain will be formed along the banks of the river, extending from the end of Miramar Beach to Santa Monica Jetty, Panjim, covering a distance of seven-km. She said that the attendees are urged to wear white and blue clothes – resembling the shades of the river.

GHAG founder member Heta Pandit said that this festival aims to bring people concerned together to pray for the wellbeing of the river and create awareness of the importance of preserving its vital freshwater and biodiversity. “This event will offer people from across the State an opportunity to come together and connect with the river, its history and its soul,” she said.

Appealing to people to join hands to pray for the well being of their beloved Mhadei, Historian and heritage activist Prajal Sakhardande said, “Together we can make a difference and preserve the river for future generations.”