PANJIM: The Save Mhadei Save Goa Front has demanded that the State government should challenge the revised detailed project report (DPR) submitted by the Karnataka government and dismantle the Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) committee constituted to implement the final award.
The Front has also demanded to know the status of the contempt petition filed by the Goa government against Karnataka for undertaking construction works in the Mhadei river basin and also the decision of the Goa Chief Wildlife Warden.
Save Mhadei Save Goa Front convenor Hrudaynath Shirodkar said that Goa government has till date not challenged nor been able to appeal to the Centre to revive the DPR on Kalasa-Bandura Project submitted by Karnataka and subsequently approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
He also demanded that the PRAWAH or Mhadei water management authority be dismantled.
Stating that the Karnataka government is hell-bent on diverting the Mhadei water, he demanded to know what would be the fate of the tiny State of Goa if ministry of environment and forest and climate change grants environmental clearances to the neighbouring State.
Adv Shirodkar said that all the political parties in Karnataka are united on diverting Mhadei water to construct the water project, while it is worrisome for Goa where all are divided.
He further demanded to know the status of the contempt petition filed by the State government since Karnataka had blatantly violated its undertaking given to the Supreme Court in 2017 that it will not undertake any construction works in the Mhadei river basin till it obtains all the required permissions.
Adv Shirodkar said that in February this year, the State wildlife Board was directed to take a decision on Karnataka’s application to undertake construction work in the Mhadei river basin to divert water in Malaprabha basin.
Adv Shirodkar said, “We want the Goa government to challenge Karnataka’s revised DPR approved by the CWC in the larger interest of the State and people of Goa. We are ready to support the government to get it withdrawn by the Centre.”
Save Mhadei Save Goa Front co-convenor Prajal Sakhardande said that besides the revised DPR, the Goa government had not challenged Justice Panchal’s award on water sharing by the three riparian states.
He pointed out that notifying Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS) as a tiger reserve will not solve the ongoing river dispute. Also Karnataka has violated the award and has gone ahead with the construction work.
Former forest minister Alina Saldanha said that nobody should be under the impression that notifying the Mhadei sanctuary as a tiger reserve will not solve the river dispute. She demanded to know whether the state government has done a proper study on the effect of diversion of Mhadei water and its flora and fauna.
Activist Anthony D’Silva said that the government should not spend taxpayers money to challenge before the Supreme Court the directives of the High Court to the State to notify MWS as a tiger reserve.
