TEAM HERALD
MAYEM: An inspection by Water Resources department on Wednesday, amidst controversy over the Maharashtra government restarting work on the Virdi dam project, despite a stop order by the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal, confirmed changes at the dam site.
Sources revealed that during the inspection by WRD Superintendent Engineer Shrikant Patil, the team found that though there was no ongoing work, evidence showed that work had been undertaken on the underground tunnels as indicated by the presence of basalt stones at the site.
“Their intention was to do the work without anybody knowing,” environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, who first noticed the work on Tuesday and accused Maharashtra of violating the Tribunal order, said.
According to him, during a visit to the Virdi dam area, to take stock of the situation, he was shocked to see hectic construction activity at the dam on Tuesday and a tunnel being dug ith the help of earth movers, trucks and other machinery.
“I also found two crusher units operating and heaps of crusher stones arranged at every spot. I then realized that Maharashtra government was keen to complete the work of the tunnel as early as possible,” Kerkar said.
“It is mandatory to follow the order of the Tribunal. However, Maharashtra government has violated the Tribunal’s order to stop the ongoing work at the Virdi dam,” Kerkar reiterated.
Patil had told media Tuesday that a delegation of Goa government will visit the area within four days to find what kind of work Maharashtra government has undertaken and the actual position.
