PANAJI: Members of the Together For Mahadayi Movement (TFMM) staged a protest today outside the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), expressing strong opposition to a recent scientific report on Mhadei river diversion.
As reported by The Goan, in a joint study undertaken by NIO and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services called "The water budget of the Mahadayi river and its implications for the inter-state dispute", the researchers claimed that the planned diversion by the Karnataka through Kalasa project will have a significant impact on the northern side of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, while the Bhandura project will have no major impact.
The findings, which go against the State's contention that Mhadei river diversion will have a catastrophic impact on Goa, were strongly condemned by the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), who led the protest today.
Protesters, dressed in blue t-shirts and carrying placards with slogans like “BJP sold Mahadayi,” “Mhadei deal by NIO,” and “Not just a river, Mahadayi is our sacred mother,” accused the report of bias. They alleged the BJP government influenced the study and questioned its impartiality.
They pointed out that one of the report's authors, D Shankar, hails from Karnataka, a state involved in the dispute.
The RGP leaders demanded that the Goa government clarify its position on the report.
RGP chief Manoj Parab criticised the scientists involved, labelling them “non-Goans” and asserting they lacked understanding and concern for Goa’s interests.
