MAPUSA
Facing a barrage of questions from the Opposition over his government’s failure to protect the interest of Goa vis-Ã -vis the diversion of the Mhadei river, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the State government has not given any consent to divert the water of Mhadei river, suggesting that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement at a rally in Karnataka was not in sync with his government’s stand on Mhadei.
Sawant, on Tuesday, also told the House that he has not given any commitment to the people of Karnataka on the diversion of the Mhadei river during his campaign in the neighbouring State.
The Union Home Minister last month during a campaign meeting in Karnataka had said the water of Mhadei has been diverted after taking the Goa Chief Minister into confidence.
“We have not given any consent to divert the water of the Mhadei river and will never do so even in the future. I have also not said anything in Kannada that we are going to divert the Mhadei river,” Sawant said.
The CM’s clarification came after the opposition cornered the government for having lost the Mhadei battle as Karnataka had managed to divert the water despite all the rhetoric by the Goa government.
CM lists actions
Listing the steps taken by his government on the Mhadei issue, Sawant informed that the government in a special cabinet meeting had appealed for the withdrawal of the approval given to the Karnataka government’s detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of dams on Mhadei river.
He said the government has also challenged the issue in the Supreme Court while a group of ministers also met the Union Home Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister.
“No matter what anyone says, we are firm in our decision and will do whatever has to be done legally, politically, and technically to save Mhadei,” Sawant reiterated.
He said that establishing the Mhadei Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) will help prevent illegal water diversion.
“PRAWAH will be notified after the ongoing Lok Sabha session,” he said.
Opposition attack
Putting the government to the sword on the Mhadei issue, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai said the State government had taken a decision demanding the withdrawal of the DPR to the Karnataka government on January 19 and within a few days, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement that the water has been diverted after taking the Goa CM into confidence.
“The CM should make a statement on the floor of the House that the Union Home Minister’s statement is false,” Sardessai said.
He also slammed the chief minister for taking part in campaign meetings in Karnataka when Goa was at loggerheads with the State on the Mhadei issue.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva and Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also took part in the debate during the Question Hour.
