Minister warns Centre over Mhadei water diversion
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 8
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has warned the Centre over diversion of Mhadei water source, which he said “will cause grave threat to the ecology, environment and wildlife of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary”.
In a letter to the Union Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh, Sequeira has informed that Karnataka’s plans are bound to disturb the river eco-system.
“Presently, the lifeline of the State of Goa, the River Mandovi is under scourge of damming and diverting project of Karnataka State, as the work of connecting the Kalasa tributary to the Malaprabha Water Basin is going on war footing at Kankumbi, by constructing a canal barely within 2.82 kms,” the minister said in the letter.
He said that from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, 43 percent of Goa’s geographical area lies in the Mandovi River basin and “any diversion of this water source will cause grave threat to the ecology, environment and wildlife of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary which is exactly 291.4 metres from the proposed Kalasa Dam site.”
“The project annual requirement of water of Goa by 2051 is 2674 metric cumecs, whereas the water resource actually available in the Mandovi is only 1531 metric cumecs,” he said adding “Thus the Mandovi is a water deficient basin. Karnataka’s plans are bound to disturb the intricate and complex river eco-system”.
Sequeira pointed out that Mhadei region has been recognized as the habitat for the endangered tiger (level 1, Tiger Conservation Unit by WWF International) and also identified as an Important Bird Area by the Bird Life International Cambridge.
“This region of the Western Ghats is biodiversity hotspot and several rare and endangered species exists, which are not found anywhere else in the Universe. As recently as one year, two caecilian species have been found,” he explained.
He also stated that the area proposed for constructing Kalasa-Bhandura Dams are falling in reserve forests and the construction is freely proceeding without obtaining the prior permission of the MoEF.
“Karnataka has already undertaken the work for the canal excavation and construction which is presently going on a rapid pace. On the orders of the Supreme Court and at the request of the Goa government, the Centre has constituted a Water Dispute Tribunal, yet the work proceeds,” Sequeira stated in the letter.
“My personal request and that of the State would be that you may direct Karnataka to forthwith stop the work and issue such orders under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Wildlife Act, 1972l; to stop work, as the same is being carried out without prior permission and approval of MoEF,” he said.
He said that recently work on the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) under the able leadership of Prof Madhav Gadgil has commenced.
“May I once again request your good self to order halt to the work till such time the WGEEP report is finalized,” Sequeira said.
