Team Herald
PANJIM: Accusing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of “conniving” with Centre and Karnataka to divert Mhadei River water, the United Opposition on Monday boycotted the all-party meeting called to deliberate on the contentious issue. Sawant later slammed the Opposition for trying to “politicise” the matter rather than working in the interest of the State.
Sawant had called for an all party meeting at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon, wherein he was expected to place a proposal to lead an all legislative party delegation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to demand for immediate revocation of the approval granted by Central Water Commission (CWC) approved Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for Kalasa-Bhandura water diversion project.
However, the Opposition decided to boycott the meeting stating that they would not like to be “partners in crime”. Few minutes before the all-party meeting was scheduled, the opposition including Congress, Goa Forward Party and Aam Aadmi Party held a meeting, during which they condemned Sawant’s way of functioning. They also demanded that the government should call for a special session of the State Assembly to discuss the Mhadei issue.
Amidst boycott by the Opposition, Sawant chaired the meeting of ruling MLAs, who agreed to the Cabinet decision. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who was not present for the cabinet, attended the MLAs’ meeting. BJP MLA Digambar Kamat and MGP MLA and Power Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar were not part of the meeting.
Speaking to reporters post the meeting, Sawant said that the act of the Opposition clearly indicates that they are not interested in Mhadei but in politicising the issue. “None of the Opposition MLAs attended the meeting. They just want to make politics out of Mhadei,” he said.
Sawant said that he is confident that the Centre will listen to their demand.
Earlier, the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao accused the Chief Minister of being hand-in-glove with Centre and Karnataka.
“The opposition was called for a meeting at 4 pm, but the CM decided everything in the cabinet. Why were the Opposition MLAs called if they already took a decision?” he questioned.
“Every act clearly shows that the approval was granted in connivance with the Goa government. Our CM was well aware about all the happenings,” Alemao said questioning as to why have none of the ruling MLAs spoken on the serious issue.
Alemao said that the Chief Minister should take the responsibility and along with the WRD Minister should lead a delegation to Delhi demanding withdrawal of permission within seven days, failing which Sawant should resign on moral grounds.
Speaking further, GFP President and MLA Vijai Sardesai also said that the opposition is not going to be partners in crime of connivance. He also said that the move is basically to please Karnataka voters ahead of the State election, due in March.
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) MLA Viresh Borkar submitted a memorandum to Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and the Chief Minister demanding the constitution of a House Committee and releasing a white paper on Mhadei.
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Cong demands White Paper, forms sub-panel to study all aspects to protect the river
PANJIM: The opposition Congress Party on Monday demanded a White Paper on River Mhadei and constituted a sub-committee under former union law minister Ramakant Khalap to study all the aspects to protect the river.
The Congress also reiterated its demand for a special Assembly session to discuss on River Mhadei and to provide all the papers pertaining to Mhadei water dispute to all MLAs, municipal councils, Zilla Panchayats (ZPs) and village panchayats. The other members of the sub-committee are Amarnath Panjikar, Tulio De Souza, Vijay Bhike, Virendra Shirodkar, Varad Mardolkar, Manisha Usgaonkar and Ramkrishna Jalmi.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Monday passed a resolution stating that Mother Mhadei is the lifeline of Goa. The existence of environment, forest, wildlife and livelihoods in Goa is fully dependent on Mother Mhadei. Congress government at the Centre constituted the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal on request of the then State government. Congress has always taken steps to protect River Mhadei while, Mhadei Jagor awareness programme was initiated by the party to create awareness among the people of Goa when attempts were being made by the Karnataka government to divert the water from Mhadei.
Congress Party staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the partisan approach of the Central government led by Bharatiya Janata Party towards Karnataka for political gains, GPCC president Amit Patkar said.
According to Patkar, the resolution further stated that the Congress Party has immensely contributed to the Goa liberation movement and has always taken proactive steps to safeguard the interest of Goa and Goans. Congress governments have at times withdrawn/scrapped their own policy decisions respecting the sentiments, emotions and aspirations of the people of Goa. Congress Party has always maintained ‘Goa First’ approach in all its policy decisions, he claimed.
Patkar said that the Congress stands committed to protect River Mhadei and safeguard the interest of Goa. Congress will take all such steps required to protect River Mhadei and safeguard the interest of Goa. Congress Party will take lead and remain in the forefront to oppose the move of the Central government of granting approval for the DPR of Kalasa-Bhandura project of the Karnataka government. Congress Party will continue with “Mhadei Jagor” across the State to create awareness among the people on the importance of existence of River Mhadei and will extend its co-operation and support to all such efforts taken by the individuals/groups/organisations/ activists to protect Mhadei.
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MBA to file Interlocutory Application in SC soon: Convenor
PANJIM: The Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) convenor Nirmala Sawant on Monday said that the MBA will soon file an Interlocutory Application (IA) before the Supreme Court, to restrain Karnataka from going ahead with the construction work of Kalasa-Bhandura dam project.
Addressing a press conference at Panjim, Sawant claimed that Karnataka cannot carry out any construction work following an undertaking submitted by the Karnataka government to the Supreme Court in August 2017. She warned that the Abhiyan will file a contempt petition for violation of the Apex Court order if Karnataka goes ahead with the construction work by citing clearance given to DPR of Kalasa-Bhandura canal by the CWC.
“We will appeal to the Supreme Court to restrain Karnataka from carrying out any construction work of Kalasa-Bhandura, which we anticipate,” Sawant said. She said that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has also submitted its report in favour of the Abhiyan stating that there was blatant violation of environment laws as the proposed project falls in the highly eco-sensitive Western Ghats area. The Karnataka Forest Department had also filed an affidavit stating that no work in the forestland will be carried out without first obtaining the approval under the Forest Conservation Act, 1960.
Supreme Court lawyer Bhavanishankar Gadnis, who has been arguing on behalf of the MBA said that it was shocking when the Goa government withdrew civil suit number 4 filed in 2006 before the Apex Court. The suit was withdrawn in 2010 at a time when the Court was poised to pass a decree.
