Goa plea points to reduction in water level and deeper entry of salt water due to the dam
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: There will be serious ramifications for procuring fish if Maharashtra succeeds in finishing the Virdi Large Minor Irrigation project, the states application filed before the water tribunal Friday argues. It points out that the reduction in the water level and the deeper entry of salt water due to the dam will reduce the fish catch.
The catch from the State’s rivers in 2013 was 4,678 MT as against the total catch of 92,662 MT.
The State has also argued the tourism industry depends on the local fish produce as well as flora, fauna, vegetation and hence will be seriously affected if the proposed trans-basin diversion of 2.83 TMC water from Mhadei basin to the Tillari basin happens. If tourists keep away from the State, then foreign exchange earnings of the country will be affected.
The application underlines the violations being committed by Maharashtra before the Water Disputes Tribunal and to point out that once the dam is
complete, the downstream flow of the Valvanti river would be affected. The Virdi dam in Maharashtra is just 500m away from Goa’s border.
The State government has asked that the project, including the canals and dams built to divert the waters of River Mhadei and its tributaries, be declared illegal as the dam is being constructed on the Kattika nullah, (tributary of the Valvanti) and is 2.45 km from Goa’s Anjunem dam and the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
The Valvanti, is also the main source of drinking and irrigation for large areas of Sattari, Bicholim and Bardez providing water 40 MLD to Padocem and 12 MLD to Sankhali water treatment plants besides supporting the Anjunem irrigation project of the Goa government.
The State, cites that the illegalities include the fact that the dam that was initially supposed to be 40.33 meters in height and 238 meters in length, was changed to 50 mts in height and 780 metres in length unilaterally by the Maharashtra government. It will also span a breadth of 736m as against the earlier 238m.
The petition alleged that Maharashtra is planning to divert waters of the Valvanti River (sub-tributary of River Mhadei) at the source by diverting the water flow from the KattikaNallah atVirdi to the adjoining Basin of Tillari River without obtaining any permissions, clearances or licenses including Environmental Clearance in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and all other laws.
According to Goa, the diversion of water to outside basin will result in complete ecological disaster and destroy flora, fauna, hills, Ghat Plains and predominant marine life including mangroves and other species.
The petition says that at present the salt water entry into Goa waters and tidal influence is felt almost 36 kms from the mouth of the sea. So diversion of water outside the basin by Maharashtra would cause the salt water to intrude further in and reduce the effective catchment area and the usable yield further. It would also reduce ground water recharge and result in increased intrusion of salt water in the aquifer.
Goa needs the Mandovi River for irrigation, domestic use, industrial use, fishing and for conservation of flora and fauna, for maintaining the appropriate river morphology for navigation, for sediment flushing, and to prevent salinity intrusion, both in the river and also in the aquifer.
Any reduction in the Mhadei waters will decimate the areas covered by Wildlife Sanctuaries and national parks admeasuring about 448.5 sq.km, and result in decimating the surrounding forests, particularly within the State of Karnataka and State of Maharashtra since the whole belt is one contiguous belt of forests and wilderness.
