The Mhadei water diversion issue echoed across Salcete on Sunday. Several gram Sabha meetings passed resolutions demanding the withdrawal of DPR consent to Karnataka and opposed moves of diverting water. Although passing resolutions becomes meaningless since the matter now rests with the Supreme Court, the unanimity with which people across the Salcete countryside stood up explains the emotive side.
While deliberations, discussions, and awareness on Mhadei and the impact of water diversion must continue, citizens across the State must also deliberate on the sorry state of our water bodies, especially rivers. If we recall, Union Jalshakti Minister Gajendrasingh Shekhawat quoted a recent report to state that six rivers of Goa, including Mandovi and Zuari, are among the 311 rivers across India that are polluted. He stated that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand of these six Goa rivers is more than permissible limits.
While the report fixed the responsibility of taking care of rivers on the State government, citizens cannot run away from accountability for these polluted rivers because rivers have been treated as waste dumps and sewage channels. So, as the gram sabhas battle for Mhadei, it would be prudent to dwell on the sheer neglect of our very own natural resources.
Secondly, the political fight over Mhadei has become so dominant that even the formation of the Mhadei Water Management Authority, a priority earlier, is now interpreted as 'conceding to diversion'.
Thirdly, while various sections continue with their demands for withdrawing the consent to the DPR, there is no attempt to critically assess the report and raise questions even days after copies were handed over to the Goa government. The question is, on what basis is the demand being made to the Centre to withdraw consent?
The sad irony is that while Karnataka remains united in its fight for Mhadei, Goa remains a disjointed lot with disparities out in the open. For example, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar who was part of the Sanquelim meeting last month was clear that the only hope for Goa rests in the Supreme Court and that the State government must expedite the formation of the Water Management Authority.
Setting up an authority was crucial because it would ensure the fair distribution of Mhadei water and prevent illegal diversion. The Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal had outlined the role of the Authority in its order. Besides ensuring the proper use of water resources, the Authority will supervise projects on Mhadei undertaken by Karnataka and Maharashtra. It will also collect all water-related data and prepare a water resources profile of the basin and its sub-basin. In addition, the Authority will investigate, research and study environmental issues and prepare action plans. Mhadei Water Management Authority has a task cut out, and its formation is not co-related to the DPR. As defined by the tribunal order, a regulatory body was needed to quantify water drawn by the three States. The Authority having an office in Panaji is another advantage.
It's time people introspect and steer away from the politics behind Mhadei. The sincerity over the Mhadei fight pales against how our rivers are treated. So while a court decision is awaited, let us show some respect and revive our water bodies that have been degraded and polluted.
