PANAJI
The State government has appointed ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Richard D’Souza as an advisor to Water Resources Department (WRD) to assist the Goa government in its ongoing battle with the two adjoining states over Mhadei water share.
In the notification, the WRD stated, “Government is pleased to engage the services of Richard D’Souza, Ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forest as an Advisor to the Water Resources Department on the subject matter of Forest, Wildlife and related forest matters for Mhadei River Water Dispute.”
The appointment comes at a time when Karnataka and Maharashtra took fresh moves to divert Mhadei despite the matter being sub-judice before the Supreme Court. On April 2, activist Rajendra Kerkar red-flagged the local authorities on the works on Virdi in what was a clear move to divert Mhadei. The counterpart officials stopped the work only after a notice from the Goa government directing them to stop the work and sought an inquiry into various approvals they obtained for the project.
Goa’s dispute over Mhadei escalated with Karnataka when the Centre approved DPR for the Kalasa-Bhandura project following the neighbouring state’s claim of undertaking the project to “meet the drinking requirements'. The Centre thereafter deferred forest clearance to Karnataka after Goa government's intervention seeking revoking permission as it did not fit the forest rules, etc.
The three states have challenged the Tribunal award with Goa also filing a fresh contempt plea against Karnataka for undertaking the construction.
