The all-party delegation visit to Delhi seeking withdrawal of letter of consent to Karnataka on the Mhadei water project turned out to be an anti-climax with Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking time to respond. The question is: Is the environment minister not familiar with the Mhadei issue? And can an environment minister feign ignorance of approvals to such sensitive subjects?
Javadekar is a seasoned campaigner and this is his second stint as Union Environment Minister. He is well-versed with the intricacies of the long-standing Mhadei water dispute. He understands the needs of a small state like Goa where six talukas are dependent on the Mhadei water. On the other hand, he understands Mhadei could be BJP’s trump card in the Karnataka bypoll. There is political manipulation on the cards and this is where the issue gets a complicated twist.
If we may recall, it was Javadekar who tweeted on October 23 that his ministry, on the request of Union Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi, had given the clearance to Karnataka to go ahead with the Kalsa-Bhandura drinking water project. It was only after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant alerted him of a backlash that is expected to follow that he promptly deleted the tweet.
Javadekar was quick to delete his tweet, but it only exposed more than what it could hide. The tweet said, “On the follow up of my cabinet colleague Pralhad, Kalasa Banduri drinking water project in Karnataka has been granted Environmental Approval.” Mind you, he doesn’t even say a consent letter.
Javadekar, by citing ignorance and seeking 10 days to respond on the issue has only bought time to explore options. Blaming it on a ‘low level’officer is a lame excuse. The Mhadei issue has been used time and again by the BJP leaders for their political advantage. Lest we forget, BJP President Amit Shah while campaigning in Karnataka’s Hubbali region ahead of the May 12 polls last year, had promised to resolve the Mhadei dispute in six months and assured that water would flow into Karnataka. This time around, the BJP will try every bit to woo the voters as it goes to the bypoll in 15 segments. Javadekar’s tweet mentioning the favour to Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi is an indication in that direction.
While the Mhadei water has suddenly taken centre-stage, theatrics and vested interests have dented this campaign. Highways are being blocked now, but the irony is that the very politicians were calling it Goa’s victory when the Mhadei tribunal in August last year allowed 3.9 TMC water diversion into the Malaprabha river basin.
Taking an all-party delegation was an exercise in futility. If at all Javadekar needed time, he could have conveyed his decision to the CM without having the Goa team paraded. All that the delegation has done is showed unity in taking up the issue and this to a certain extent has doused the voices of dissent back home.
