MARGAO
The Gram Sabha of the Dramapur-Sirlim on Sunday unanimously resolved that the proposed diversion of waters of river Mhadei by Karnataka must be rejected and demanded revocation of all permissions granted, including the approval of the DPR and award given by the Tribunal in 2018.
While saying that no further permissions should be granted, the gram sabha further resolved that the panchayat shall endorse this resolution at the next meeting and forward the resolution to all the relevant authorities of the governments of Goa and India for immediate implementation.
At the gram sabha chaired by sarpanch Avita Pereira, members further resolved that the Forest Department of the Goa government must prevent the loss of wildlife and forests in Goa due to the proposed diversion of waters of river Mhadei by upholding the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to give directions that no waters are diverted under any circumstances.
The meeting further resolved that the ongoing coal handling at Mormugao port and coal transportation from and within Goa must be stopped immediately not just to protect Goa and Goans from the direct impacts, but also to ensure that the waters usurped by the steel plants of private profit-seeking corporations are returned to the people of Karnataka and the diversion of Mhadei river is prevented.
“The environment, economies and people of Goa, especially the traditional communities living in exemplary coexistence with its rich flora and fauna, are dependent on Mhadei river for their survival. Almost half of Goa's population depends on the Mhadei river for their drinking water or fishing, agriculture and other traditional economies. The future water crisis due to climate change and the vulnerability of Goa as described in the State Action Plan for Climate Change for State of Goa also demand that water flowing into the State of Goa must be defended under all circumstances,” stated gram sabha member Dominic Noronha.
He said the flora and fauna of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Western Ghats in Mhadei, Mollem, Bhimgad and Bondla Wildlife Sanctuaries and the rich fisheries of Mandovi, Cumbharjua and Zuari rivers depend on the free-flowing Mhadei river for their survival.
“The proposed diversion is not just in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, but is also against the basic principle that free-flowing rivers, especially rivers flowing across State and national boundaries, should not be blocked by any person, state or country. The human status of Whanganui river recognized by New Zealand equally applies to our Mother, river Mhadei, whose legal rights as a living entity have been violated,” he added.
The gram sabha members contended that the diversion of Mhadei waters to the Malaprabha river is not for drinking or irrigation supplies to the residents of Karnataka, but for a large number of future steel and power plants within the Malaprabha river basin proposed by the Sagarmala Programme and the Karnataka government.
It was observed that the existing steel plants in Karnataka, which are supplied coal from Mormugao Port against the interests of Goa and Goans, consume huge quantities of water, creating artificial water scarcity faced by the residents of Karnataka. These steel plants were also noted to be only for the private profits of a few corporations at huge costs to the people and nation, and are therefore against the public and national interest.
