Team Herald
PONDA: Residents of Ponda taluka fear that if the Central government delays withdrawing its “consent” letter for the Kalasa-Banduri project, Karnataka might secretly steal water from Dudhsagar River, another tributary of Mhadei on which Opa plant is operating.
The concerned Ponda locals have urged the government to protect Goans from water crisis by pressurizing the Central government to withdraw the consent immediately.
Vishal Fadte, a Ponda resident, said that it’s high time for government, the chief minister and the forty MLAs to act swiftly and pressurise the Central government to immediately withdraw the consent letter for Mhadei water diversion, as delay may encourage Karnataka to move stealthily to steal Dudhsagar water.
“If Opa doesn’t get water due to diversion of Dudhsagar River, then it would cause draught in Tiswadi and Ponda talukas. This in turn will lead to fight water,” said another Ponda local.
He warned that diverting water from Mhadei River would increase the salinity in the rivers. This in turn would affect the eco system, agricultural activities in these Talukas.
He also warned that water shortage would cause draught like situation and Goans might fight for water if Mhadei and Dudhsagar are diverted.
“The water resources such as springs, wells, lakes have already dried pu and filled up for construction of houses and business establishments. The government should make constant follow up with Central Government. All Forty MLAs should constantly pressurise Central Government to withdraw the consent letter to Karnataka,” he said.
Another citizen Umesh Naik said that Karnataka has already got the consent letter to divert Mhadei water flowing in Sattari Taluka. In case, based on this success if Karnataka submits another plan to divert Dudhsagar River, then, not only the world famous Dudhsagar falls will run dry but entire Ponda and Tiswadi talukas would be affected. Opa that supplies water to entire Tiswadi and Ponda Talukas get its water from Dudhsagar River.
Meanwhile, Ponda MLA Ravi Naik stressed that Goa government should immediately make effort to withdraw the consent letter for Mhadei diversion. “If the government fails, then, Karnataka is sure to divert Dudhsagar water for their various projects,” he said.
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Public meeting on Nov 29
Mhadai Bachao Andolan (MBA) members on Wednesday appealed to the locals of Ponda and surrounding talukas to join in large numbers for the public meeting on November 29 at 4 pm at Dada Vaidya Chowk Ponda to support Mhadei Bhachav agitation. They said that there is no water shortages in Karnataka as there are several rivers flowing in Karnataka, but as per the report prepared by their engineers the miss-management of water cause water crisis. Karnataka is also fighting with big States like Tamil Nadu on water sharing issue and for them Goa is like tinny State. Hence, there is urgency to stop Karnataka from diverting Mhadei water and for the immediate withdrawal of consent letter to prevent Karnataka from succeeding in its plan.
