PANAJI
A delegation of activists working to save the Mhadei river met Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Wednesday and sought his intervention over the issue of diversion of the river water.
Goa and neighbouring Karnataka have been engaged in a tussle over sharing of the river water for several years. Goa has often accused Karnataka of proceeding unilaterally in the matter by ignoring pacts.
Prashant Naik, from the NGO Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front, said they told the governor that the State government was “not doing enough” to save the river water from being diverted by Karnataka.
There are so many things that could have been done by the state government, he said.
“For example, the detailed project report (of Kalasa-Banduri canal construction) submitted by Karnataka and approved by the Centre should have been challenged in the Supreme Court, but that has not happened,” Naik said.
Social worker and historian Prajal Sakhardande, who was part of the delegation, said the governor should prevail upon the Goa government that the Mhadei issue should be taken seriously.
“Goa is a small state and we cannot do without Mhadei. The diversion will severely affect Goa in many ways,” he said.
