The vexed Mhadei water diversion issue rocked the Legislative Assembly session on Wednesday, with the Opposition throwing a volley of questions charging the government of not being serious on the matter even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant maintained that there is no compromise on the issue. While some crucial observations have caught the treasury benches on the wrong foot, demands of asking the Centre to withdraw the Detailed Project Report approval granted to Karnataka pale out and once again highlight the political linkages to the issue.
The government was faced with several questions: “What measures are being taken to stop projects undertaken by the Karnataka government in the Mhadei basin? Why Goa’s representative on the Water Management Authority (PRAWAH) has not yet been named? Why the change in gradient by Karnataka to facilitate the flow of water to their areas has not been challenged? And why the scope of the House Committee is not widened to bring the team of lawyers representing Goa under its purview?
Ironically, the WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar, who heads the House Committee on Mhadei, held only one meeting on February 8 following an announcement on the Floor of the House in January.
There is no denying that the State government has moved the Supreme Court with several petitions and lately got a significant boost after the top court admitted a Special Leave Petition challenging the award of the Mhadei tribunal with the matter fixed for November 28. However, this cannot be considered a victory, and Goa will have to keep its fingers crossed till the court decides on the petition.
Meanwhile, the State government also cannot take comfort that the matter is admitted in the apex court and choose to ignore developments across the State. Appropriate reciprocal action has to be initiated against the works undertaken on the basin. Since there is enough time with Karnataka, construction activity which is alleged to be underway must be ascertained and stayed.
While the government is banking on its latest move in the Supreme Court, it must admit its failure to bring a stay on the award much earlier. Also, getting the legal team under the purview of the House Committee is a fair suggestion that should have been considered keeping in mind the unanimity that the government is seeking in taking up this issue. Lest we forget, the Chief Minister has led an all-party delegation to Delhi in what was seen as a joint representation. A collaborative effort must be holistic in all aspects, and the legal arm must also be a part of it.
Interestingly, while several members have made allegations of water being diverted and construction activity undertaken by Karnataka in full swing, the Goa government has failed to launch a ground-truthing exercise on the pretext that the neighbouring State is denying entry. The Sawant government must overcome this obstacle and engage the Centre. A State delegation involving environmentalists must visit Karnataka to ascertain the ground realities. Goa should not be a silent spectator, merely exuding optimism in legal battles and ignoring other options.
