HERALD: Present stand of Goa Forward on the River Mhadei Issue?
VIJAI SARDESAI: The stand of the Goa Forward party since the day it has been formed and through the various transitions we have had to the moment now that we are in the government, is unchanged. We are against inter basin diversion, i.e. removing water from Mhadei basin and taking it to the Malaprabha basin. We are against that all together because it will be a sellout of Goa and it will destroy the ecology and environment of Goa. Going by the plans of Karnataka government of having eight dams on the Mhadei it will completely dry up the Mandovi river. Hence, diversion is non-negotiable and can’t even be discussed. Now the point here is that the tribunal allows Karnataka to draw water from the Mhadei river for drinking water purpose only and this is on record and is the fact of the matter.
HERALD: All along the way Goa Forward has been of a consistent stand on the issue, why is there a change now?
VIJAI : The Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has written letter saying that he is willing to discuss the matter and has become the eye of the storm since the Karnataka is an election-bound State. Our stand is very clear that beyond the minuscule amount of drinking water any additional water to Karnataka will be selling out of Goa to Karnataka. All national parties have National compulsions and whilst looking at the bigger picture there is a tendency that they dilute the Goan interests as all national political parties have some National Political compulsions. In the effort of national integration the national political parties have to sacrifice a lot of their regional interests. However, we know that this national party may have political compulsions but we do have faith in the Chief Minister of Goa as his track record is good as far as Mhadei is concerned.
It is quite clear after we raised it in the cabinet that beyond this letter nothing is going to happen and before the elections of Karnataka I don’t think much is going to happen. In fact we are not going to allow anything to happen.
Moreover, my political experience and my position in this present government tells me that there is nothing going to happen beyond this letter. The Congress has to also introspect their own role when it comes to Mhadei. Goans have a large heart and I feel that drinking water of something like 0.9 TMC or less is not an issue.
HERALD: The provision of 1 TMC water can be made through deposition before tribunal only. Why should Goa forward agree upon the BJP on the letters?
VIJAI : The point is very clear that the letter has political implications as the letter has been written with a specific focus on Karnataka. Karnataka is facing an election and our ally party is contesting the election in Karnataka. National political parties do have their compulsions. We are supporting because we know that beyond that letter nothing is going to happen and is just a mirage.
The letter is nothing and it is overloaded with political overtures. The letter only says that it is just intention to talk and I am sure even if there is a talk that I don’t think it will happen without us in the loop and that’s for sure.
Importantly, there is no dilution in our stand whether it is on the coal issue the river nationalisation issue or the Mhadei issue. We are following our agenda and are walking the talk.
