PANAJI
The Mhadei-PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony) will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday, March 4 to discuss the Goa government’s proposal for a joint site inspection of the Kalasa Nala project of Karnataka.
The third meeting of PRAWAH under Chairman Navin Kumar was held in Goa on October 25, last year, during which the authority had decided to approach the Central government seeking legal opinion with regards to the joint site inspection request.
According to the agenda, the PRAWAH will further discuss the joint inspection proposal, which is being strongly objected to by Karnataka during its upcoming meeting.
The meeting will also discuss a detailed procedure for the final clearance of new minor irrigation projects and drinking water projects. The members will also deliberate on the DPR of the Virdi Large Minor Irrigation Project by Maharashtra - the project that has also received objection from Karnataka.
In July, last year, following the request from the Goa government, the PRAWAH team visited the Mhadei basin areas of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. However, the team failed to inspect the actual diversion site and hence Karnataka’s violations went unnoticed.
This was strongly objected to by Goa, who through a fresh communication, in August, last year requested the authority for another joint site inspection. The Authority was constituted on May 22, 2023 to give effect to the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) Award passed in August 2018.
The Mumbai meeting will also discuss several administrative matters including directing three States to deploy officers in PRAWAH on a deputation basis.
