PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led delegation on Wednesday met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to mount pressure on the Central government to revoke the approved DPR for Kalasa-Bhandura project in Karnataka.
Although the details of the meeting are kept under wraps, Sawant disclosed that the meeting was ‘positive’ and that the Union Minister was briefed about Goa’s concerns.
The CM also stated that Shah assured to look into the matter. There was, however, no word about Shah categorically agreeing to Goa’s plea.
“Goa government’s delegation on Mhadei met the Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi today and urged for immediate constitution of the Mhadei Water Management Authority as given in the award and also urged for the withdrawal of the DPR sanctioned by CWC,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a brief statement issued late Wednesday night.
The delegation later met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to convey how the DPR’s approval will impact Goa adversely as the State will face an acute shortage of water.
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, the delegation left for the capital after the cabinet meeting at Porvorim.
The high-level delegation did not include the Opposition leaders, for; they refused to extend cooperation to government meetings ahead of the Delhi trip.
“The Opposition leaders refused to attend the all-party meeting. Their attitude indicates they are not interested in either discussing the
matter or being a part of the government delegation (to Delhi). Therefore, we didn’t call them,” the CM told reporters before leaving for the airport on Wednesday.
North Goa MP Shripad Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Water Resource Minister Subhash Shirodkar, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar, Independent legislator Chandrakant Shetye joined the CM to meet Shah over the inter-state row on Mhadei.
The ministers in one voice said the State will not compromise on the issue as the government is under tremendous pressure to ensure the modified DPR is withdrawn. “The most important agenda is to demand the withdrawal of DPR. We won’t compromise on Mhadei at any cost. We will also highlight an urgent need for constituting Mhadei Water Management Authority,” Godinho said.
Asked if the Centre’s decision in favour of Karnataka was a result of upcoming assembly polls, the minister replied negatively stating, “This is not a question of election or politics between Goa and Karnataka. Mhadei is protecting the environment, flora and fauna; and we will not compromise at any cost,” Godinho said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte echoed his cabinet colleague’s views while adding that the Goa government is capable of saving Mhadei. “We will not leave any option to protect Mhadei,” he added.
