The Goa government-appointed 14-member study group on Mhadei river diversion has in its report pointed at loopholes in the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) technical approval to the Karnataka’s Detailed Project Reports and mentioned how critical aspects were ignored while clearing the reports. Among the points raised was the CWC limited its appraisal of DPR to only Hydrology and Inter-Sate Aspects while ignoring other critical dimensions. Also, the CWC did not verify the claim of Karnataka that the diversion is to meet the drinking water requirements of Hubli-Dharwad, Kundgol and other villages along the route.
The report explains how Karnataka flouted norms, bypassed practices, overlooked other clearances and how the CWC literally made no effort to insist and examine the Master Plan on water usage. The entire report infers that CWC appeared to be more than willing to dispose of what Karnataka had proposed without looking into critical issues like the impact on the environment, ecology and human life due to the proposed Kalasa - Bhandura Nala diversion schemes.
While it comes as a shock that the CWC has literally played to the tunes of Karnataka, it is equally shocking that Goa took so long after the DPR was cleared by the CWC in December 2022. There is no doubt that the members of the study group have done a thorough job probing the minute details and trying to find technical faults. However, the question is whether these findings can be placed before the court and whether the notings will find merit when Goa’s plea for a stay on CWC approval of the DPR comes up for hearing.
While Goa’s hope of respite on the Mhadei water diversion rests on a thin thread of hope, the State government will have to show urgency and seek an early hearing. Apparently, the State will have to wage its own battle against the CWC approval since the Centre has distanced itself from the issue and given subtle indications of siding with the State of Karnataka given the bigger political connotation.
Interestingly, it has emerged that Mhadei water diversion has been more of an electoral issue rather than a socio-economic one because the controversy has been raising its head will full steam only at the hustings where political players swear by slogans like “mother Mhadei” and “lifeline of Goa”. The silence, otherwise, is deafening and explains the shallow side.
While the Mhadei issue languishes in the corridors of the Supreme Court, it will undoubtedly be a poll plank in both Goa and Karnataka ahead of the looming Lok Sabha election. Most likely the State government will conveniently cushion itself since the matter is before the court, while the Opposition will cry foul over the government not showing seriousness. The routine script will play out as long as the common man remains a gullible spectator ready to toe that script.
The belated findings by the study group will mean nothing to the people of the State if the government doesn't hold the conviction of stopping Karnataka in its tracks. For now, the study group report seems to be a pre-emptive tool to blunt any Opposition fight on Mhadei.
