Team Herald
MARGAO/PERNEM: Urging the public to light candles or diyas on Sunday, February 12, from 7 pm to 7.30 pm, the Save Mhadei, Save Goa group also announced their plans to strengthen the public movement across South Goa, which would culminate in a mega public rally in Margao by March-end.
While addressing mediapersons on Friday evening, the Salcete Taluka Convenor Serafin Cotta called on all like-minded citizens to shed light to the common cause of saving Mhadei River by lighting a candle or diya outside their houses on Sunday.
He added that if the Mhadei River is diverted, the effects will be felt throughout the State and Goa’s famous water bodies or Dudhsagar spring will be lost.
Adv Pratima Coutinho said, “People from all age groups should participate in this initiative, which would put pressure on the State government.”
Activist Anthony Da Silva said, “It is time for the people of Goa to get together and fight together on the issue of Mhadei.”
Activist Tara Kerkar also slammed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for campaigning for the Karnataka BJP Chief Minister ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka at a time when the Karnataka government is threatening to cripple Goa’s mother Mhadei by diverting Goa’s share of the water to the neighbouring State.
Activist Prakash Naik added that the Save Mhadei movement does not end with one or two meetings like the public rally held in Sanquelim and that corner meetings will be held in all the South Goa talukas and all the village panchayat and municipal areas in the district too.
Meanwhile, Save Mhadei Save Goa front resolved to fight for Mother Mhadei, at Mandrem. During the meeting, the front decided to hold corner meetings at the markets, temples, and tinto to create awareness among the people of various wards of the village panchayat. The front’s next move is to distribute pamphlets.
The front further decided to hold a public meeting where the people from across Pernem Taluka will be called including the former and present elected representatives, etc. The meet resolved to get a resolution passed by the village panchayat at the gram sabha.
