The State government has finally bowed down to politicalpressure and filed a contempt petition against Karnataka before the SupremeCount for illegally diverting Mhadei water to the Malaprabha basin. Given theground situation, it appears that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has onlyused the petition to douse the growing Opposition fire on the issue. The Stateis relying on visual evidence it claims shows that water is being diverted viathe Kalasa-Banduri canal. It also claims that a team of the Goa governmentvisited a site at Kankumbi.
But the question is, how did the Mhadei issue resurfaceout of the blue? And why were politicos mum if they had possession of evidencetwo weeks back? Why was the CM silent if his team visited Kankumbi in the firstweek of September? The truth is that water was being diverted at Kankumbi evenbefore the tribunal gave its award. And here is a brief backgrounder. Of the13.42 tmcft water allocated to Karnataka, 5.5 tmcft is for use within the riverbasin and diversion to the Malaprabha reservoir. The Supreme Court has grantedinterim relief to the Karnataka government, allowing it to implement the finalorder. The only point of contention would be the quantum of water that isdiverted.
If we may recall, Goa's earlier petitions before the apexcourt on the issue have been dismissed, including the one filed by Goa ForwardParty. Time-stamped videos and photos can convince the ordinary citizens, butmay not stand the test of courts.
There is a stark contrast in the way both States handledthe issue. Karnataka appeared united right from the start, and their leadershigh on confidence. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and MinesPralhad Joshi seemed flabbergasted over Goa's move and struck a defiant chordsaying that Karnataka will go ahead with the work of implementation of Mhadeiproject as per the award. The Karnataka WRD Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi instantlydenied water diversion claiming that they have only claimed their rightfulshare. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on his recent visit to Goa refused tocomment on Mhadei water and openly stated that it was for Sawant to discuss theissue with people, not him.
Cut across to Goa and the State projects a picture ofdisunity with the political class continuing to play the blame game and scorebrownie points. Ironically, Mhadei is termed as a 'mother', but very few haveunderstood the contours of the water flow and have merely used it as apolitical plank. Goa must stand together, and political parties must join handswith the government to devise strategies.
Karnataka, by being a larger state with more MPs,certainly enjoys better connections with the central leadership. The fact thatenvironmental clearance is waived-off because it's a water project, and thesubsequent gazette notification goes to show that the tide is not in Goa'sfavour.
Goa must stop politicking over Mhadei and leaders must bepractical. Solutions like dismantling Karnataka's infrastructure and divertingwater to Goa sound stupid. While Mhadei issue plays out once again, thepolitical one-upmanship is getting a bad name for the State.
