MARGAO
Asserting that attempt to dilute Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn will not be tolerated by the regional party, Goa Forward supremo and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday sent a signal to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that the party will not be interested to hold the Water Resources Department (WRD) portfolio in the event the proposed drinking water supply to Karnataka exceeds what is agreed upon by the Goa government.
"We are with the Chief Minister to the point that water meant for irrigation should not exceed beyond the set limit. In the event, something happens that the volume of water is increased for irrigation, I think we will not be interested to hold the WRD portfolio," the TCP minister told the media on Thursday.
The TCP minister further made it very clear that the Goa Forward does not want to be a party for the sellout of Goa or Goa being cheated or given a raw deal by Karnataka just because Goans have a large heart. The TCP minister further said it is for the government to work out a mechanism to verify and check the violation of proposed agreement between the two states.
Addressing the media in the wake of media reports that the Chief Minister has agreed to provide drinking water for Karnataka, the TCP minister said the Chief Minister called him on Thursday morning that the government is ready to give drinking water to Karnataka, saying that Parrikar has told him the government will give nothing more than drinking water. "I would like to tell the Chief Minister that Goans are generous and have a large heart. The Mhadei tribunal had in the past recommended sharing water for drinking purpose. But, Karnataka's track record has been bad with Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery dispute and Andhra Pradesh on river Godavari issue. Drinking water can be given by pumping. Let the required water be pumped out on the lines of Opa. The government should ensure that water is not misused for irrigation," he said.
Sardesai, however, warned that the Goa Forward will relinquish the WRD portfolio if the water supplied to Karnataka exceeds the set target. "We don't want to be a sellout of Goa or Goa being cheated or given a raw deal by Karnataka just because we have got a large heart. Karnataka has built a canal network. Let them break the canals if they are only asking water for drinking," he said.
Replying to a question, he said that Goa Forward's stand and commitment on Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn remains the same though he admitted that the coalition partner, BJP may be affected by pulls and pressures in view of the forthcoming Assembly election in Karnataka.
"Political considerations may be there since our ally is a national party. There may be pulls and pressures. But, whatever may be there, our commitment on Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn remains unchanged," Sardesai said, adding that Goa Forward party's stand on Mhadei river, river nationalisation and coal transportation remains the same
till date.
On coal transportation, Sardesai said his stand has been clear that coal should be transported in containers and the coal should be handed in a dome.
"I am happy that Goa State Pollution Control Board has issued directions to transport coal by containers. We take the issues to the logical conclusion. Even on nationalisation of rivers, our stand is clear that there cannot be coal transportation in any river in addition to the ones presently utilised," he said.
