PANJIM/VASCO: The all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant met Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, to express its displeasure over the letter granting consent for construction of Kalasa-Bhanduri canal to divert Mhadei water.
Sawant said that the Union Minister has assured to look into the matter positively within 10 days.
Taking to the social media, Sawant wrote, “Led an all-party delegation from Goa to meet Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to discuss on Mhadei matter. Submitted a representation on behalf of the delegation and highlighted the wrongful manner in which a letter was issued by his Ministry to Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd regarding Kalasa-Bhanduri project”. He continued, “The Minister was kind enough to assure a written communication on the same within 10 days. Every member expressed his views. After listening to everyone Javadekar assured his support to protect the interest of the State and people of Goa.”
On his arrival at Dabolim airport, Sawant said that they put forth a few demands, including to withdraw the letter as the matter is in the Apex court and if the Union Minister wants to discuss the Mhadei issue he should undertake a joint site inspection along with representatives from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and MoEF. “Javadekar has agreed to this proposal,” Sawant said.
He said that the letter is a ‘routine’ one part of a process and that was issued at the subordinate bureaucracy level, with the file not reaching the Union Minister.
“But still we have emphasized that this project needs Environment Clearance. Replying to these demands, the Union Minister has assured to give a written reply on the Mhadei issue within ten days. I am sure that his reply will be in the interest of Goa,” Sawant said.
However, Goa Forward Party, which moved the NGT on the issue appeared to be unsatisfied with the meeting raising several questions.
“@PrakashJavdekar says approval given by @moefcc to #Karnataka issued by a ‘low level officer’.@PMOIndia are important inter state issues handled so casually? & what about his tweet announcing d same or @JoshiPralhad’s thanks?” questioned GFP president Vijai Sardesai.
He continued, “My fear that on #Mhadei Goa’s interests were being sacrificed at altar of Karnataka’s by-polls, turned out to be true @ AllPartyMeeting. But petition filed by me in NGT will be insurance against any further mischief by ‘low level MoEF officials’ in future.”
Leader of the Opposition, Digamabar Kamat demanded immediate withdrawal of the letter saying it is against the interest of Goa and Goans.
On October 23, Javadekar had tweeted that MoEFCC had granted environmental approval for the project after constant followup from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. However, he deleted the tweeted soon after following backlash on social media.
Besides Sawant, others that comprised the delegation included Union Minister of State for Defence and AYUSH, Shripad Naik, WRD Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues, former Dy CM Ramkrishan (Sudin) Dhavalikar, former deputy CM Vijai Sardesai, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, former MLA Nirmala Sawant.
