the goan I network
MARGAO
Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues on Monday exuded confidence that the Centre will put to rest the Mhadei water controversy taking into consideration the apprehensions and fears of the people of Goa on the issue.
He, however, said he cannot reply whether the Centre is dilly-dallying on withdrawing the letter issued to Karnataka in view of the ensuing bypoll in that state.
During an interaction with the media at the South District Collectorate on Monday, the WRD Minister said he does not want to go into the issue of the letter written by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar to Karnataka, but hastened to add that he has confidence and hope that the same minister will solve the problem.
When the media drew the attention of the WRD Minister to the concerns raised by the people of Goa on Mhadei which is now taking the shape of an agitation, Filipe Neri said, “I wish and hope that the centre is aware of the apprehensions and fears expressed by the people of Goa and the centre will put the issue to rest. They (Centre) cannot take the issue casually. But I am confident that Prakash Javadekar will solve our problem”.
When questioned whether the all-party delegation had impressed upon the Union Minister to allow officials of Goa government to visit the project site in Karnataka to ascertain the status of the work, Filipe Neri said the minister has assured the delegation that all the demands made by the Goa will be addressed at the earliest.
When the media demanded to know whether the delay by the Centre to withdraw the letter is on account of the ensuing bypolls for the Karnataka Assembly, Filipe Neri said he cannot reply on the question about what is happening in Karnataka. “We are only concerned about our state. We are not interested about their elections. We are only concerned that our water should not be diverted when the case is before the Tribunal and the Supreme Court.”
He reminded the Karnataka cannot go about the water project when permissions are required under the State and national wildlife board to take up the project. To another question, he said all the three states in the dispute, Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, have challenged the award before the Supreme Court since they did not agree on the findings of the Tribunal.
“When all the three states have disagreed on the award, it is contradictory on the part of Karnataka seeking permission from the centre to start the project,” he said, while exuding confidence that the Union Minister will soon put to rest the points raised by the people of Goa.
