The Supreme Court verdict agreeing to the Karnataka government’s plea to have the Mahadayi Tribunal award notified by the Centre comes as a major setback to Goa. The jubilation in Karnataka in understandable, but the optimism which the Goa government is showing is baffling. For Karnataka, the apex court clearance would mean a virtual green signal to go ahead with its controversial Kalasa-Bhandura drinking water project. For Goa, it’s another wait in hope.
Goa’s fight against Karnataka’s water project was hinging on two thin threads of hope. One is whether the court would reject Karnataka’s plea to notify the award. And second, Goa’s review petition which is now scheduled to be taken up in July 2020. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and WRD Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues are banking on the July review petition hoping Goa could regain lost ground. But that means Goa will have to wait helplessly for five months and watch Karnataka go ahead with its project and divert water too.
Goa government’s motive on Mhadei has been suspect right from December 2017 when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote to party leader Karnataka leader BS Yeddyurappa about considering a request for “drinking water” on “humanitarian grounds”. Leaders in the government have made statements that sharing of water with Karnataka is inevitable. Much against expectations, and in a major surprise to the all-party delegation that made a Delhi trip, the Centre issued a letter of consent to Karnataka’s project dealing yet another blow to Goa. To top it all, despite stiff opposition from the State government and the Opposition, the Centre refused to withdraw the consent letter.
The trail only indicates that we don’t have any roadmap on Mhadei. Government has been making vague and random promises based on political equations. The jingoistic chest-thumping and shouts of solidarity of protecting ‘Mother Mhadei’ now appear to be only a superficial political show. Government’s slogans on ‘lifeline’ have died out. All those threats of taking the MoEF to court and legally confronting the Centre appear to be humbug. Those who ridiculed the Opposition over beating Mhadei drums for political gains are now pinning all hopes on the review petition.
There has been a complete lack of transparency from the State government on Mhadei right from Day One. The story so far has been only about false hopes, despite knowing well that the Centre is inclined towards Karnataka for the political advantage it has over Goa. The BJP has flattered to deceive, and it’s time an united opposition and the people of Goa take forward whatever little is left of this fight. But before that, the government must release a white paper on Mhadei.
While Goa waits patiently, the least the government can do is focus on water conservation and expedite work on the six check dams which the chief minister had promised.
