CANACONA
Expressing solidarity with the people of the State amid concerns over the Mhadei river, different associations in Canacona will hold a meeting on Monday.
Members of Swabhimani Jagruth Canconkars, Forum for Senior Citizens of Canacona, Canacona Patrakar Sangh, Goenkar, Jana-Sena Warriors and ‘Vision & Mission…Progressive Canacona’ have assured to attend the meeting in Chaudi at 5 pm.
Canacona Co-ordinator of ‘Save Mhadei… Save Goa’ movement Janardhan Bhandari has appealed to the people of Canacona to attend the meeting and express their views on ways to take the movement forward.
Bhandari said noted social activist Shantaji Naik Gaonkar will be the convenor of ‘Save Mhadei…Save Goa’ for Canacona taluka.
“This is not the time to derive political dividends over the Mhadei river. However, it is evident that the BJP has compromised Mhadei to help its Karnataka unit to garner votes in assembly election. BJP in Karnataka has begun with celebration after the central government gave nod to Detail Project Report (DPR) to construct Kalasa-Bhandura dams. However, BJP leaders of Goa kept mum. Hence, people of Goa will have to stand with this movement to save Mhadei from getting diverted,” Bhandari said.
Naikgaunkar said that since the last 30 years, people of Goa are fighting to protect Mhadei.
“However every time the environmentalists brought the diversion to the notice of the BJP government, it turned blind eye,” said Shantaji Naik Gaunkar.
According to Bhandari and Naik Gaunkar, six talukas of Goa and five wildlife sanctuaries will be affected if water from the Mhadei is diverted.
“We need to protect nature and ecology. We will have to fight for our right,” said Bhandari, while appealing to all to join the meeting.
