Team Herald
PANJIM: The opposition Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Thursday repeatedly demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should specify the time frame for withdrawal of approval for DPR granted to Karnataka and the Central Water Commission (CWC). Speaking on the resolution on Mhadei river, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao alleged that it looks as though the sole objective of approval of DPR was appeasement of the electorate of Karnataka in view of the forthcoming elections there. He asked the Chief Minister to give a time-frame within which Karnataka DPR would be withdrawn. He said that all the MLAs should resign and create a constitutional crisis if the Centre refuses to withdraw Karnataka’s DPR.
Yuri also moved five amendments to the resolution. GFP president and MLA Vijai Sardesai too demanded a time frame from the Chief Minister to withdraw the DPR and scientific approach towards utilisation of Mhadei water. He brought to the notice of the House that the then Union Minister had issued a notification stating that the water projects don’t require Environmental Clearances (ECs) and urged the government to look into it.
There should be one-point demand that Karnataka’s DPR be withdrawn within a specific time-frame he said failing which MLAs can take the ultimate step of resigning en masse and create a constitutional crisis.
Sardesai challenged the Chief Minister to campaign for BJP in the ensuing Karnataka polls categorically stating that Goa will not allow the diversion of Mhadei river. He also remarked that those who weakened the Mhadei battle in the Supreme Court were now in the ruling party. Reiterating his ultimatum of 15 days to withdraw the DPR by the Centre, Sardesai said that failing which the Chief Minister should resign and put pressure on the Centre.
He said that if they do not happen then all MLAs should be prepared to resign and create a constitutional crisis in the State. He alleged that the Centre was using the resources of smaller States for bigger States.
He also said that he was ready to join the BJP “free” if it managed to save Goa’s interests on Mhadei. Sardesai said that the State government had proposed the construction of 61 bandharas to meet the water requirement of the State till 2051 and that till date only two bandharas had been built. He demanded that the government should build the remaining bandharas within the next months alleging that both, Karnataka and Maharashtra were surreptitiously diverting water.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira called for the need to stand in unison over the Mhadei issue instead of indulging in political blame games as it would give an advantage to Karnataka.
Benaulim AAP MLA Venzy Viegas demanded notifying forested areas of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary excluding human settlement.
