People and activists of diverse segments of Goa came to the call of Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front near Lohia Maidan, Margao and firmly rooted for a second revolution to protect River Mhadei and all the rivers of Goa. Hordes of people, some carrying buckets and water pots symbolic of Goa’s water scarcity, turned up at the venue as voices thundered one after another over the vexed Mhadei water-sharing issue.
Resolutions were passed demanding immediate revocation of all approvals given to Karnataka for the DPR and disbanding of committees formed to monitor Mhadei water diversion and the Water distribution authority, which was recently constituted with its head office identified as Panaji. Significantly, the Chief Wildlife Warden was asked to follow up on the notice to the Central government and refuse to allow water diversion.
Yes, the people are guardians of the State’s assets and have every democratic right to protest and do whatever the Constitution empowers to safeguard them. The frustration of people over the government not doing enough to stop water diversion was amplified in the voices that rose to speak on Sunday. The message was loud and clear that the people were not ready to accept this diversion.
These periodic protests ” call for a second opinion poll and a second revolution ” may not really help change the narrative which is now hinging on the Supreme Court and the unity of Goa and Maharashtra on Mhadei shown recently by the respective governments appears hollow. Amidst all of this, protests have succeeded in sending a clear message that people are alive to the issues of the State and that the government of the day would have to face scrutiny over its decisions.
Recently villages of Sarzora and Dicarpale in Salcete were in the grip of fear over the government’s plan to divert river water for industrial use. WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar may have cleared the air and explained that his visit to the sites was to beautify the lakes and augment water for irrigation. He, however, added that the government plans to draw water from the Kushawati River for industrial use at Verna and Mormugao. People went into a huddle and expressed apprehensions over plans forcing Shirodkar to clarify the next day.
The departments must find alternative ways to feed the industry’s water needs instead of taping into the river. For example, why can’t the treated sewage water currently channelled into rivers be supplied to industries? The Sirvodem sewage treatment plant alone generates 20 million litres of water per day which could be further treated and piped to meet the industry’s water requirement. This could also tremendously ease the pressure on the Selaulim source from where the Verna industries are being supplied raw water.
The government needs to think rationally about water scarcity and have alternate plans. Mere assurances will not help when there are water problems daily. People are not going to take decisions lying down.
