the goan I network
BICHOLIM
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said the State government is closely monitoring the Mhadei water issue, amid declining water levels of the Barazan waterfall linked to construction work at Kankumbi which connects the Malaprabha river.
“The government is alert to the situation and will go to any extreme to safeguard the interests of the State,” said Sawant.
The chief minister was responding to queries on the decreased water level at the Barazan waterfalls on account of construction work at Kankumbi which connects to the Malaprabha river.
Environmentalists have accused the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) of diverting seasonal water flow into the Malaprabha river before the summer, which has eventually led to low water levels at the Barazan waterfalls.
The Barazan waterfall traditionally attracts tourists till February end, but this time it is worrying because the water level has fallen and it is only December.
The Kalasa nallah, a tributary of the Mhadei river, originates at the right side of Rameshwar temple in Kankumbi and then flows to the Ambyacho Vhal, from where it proceeds towards the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa.
The water then joins the Surla nallah and eventually enters the Barazan waterfalls.
But with the construction of the Kalasa canal which connects the Malaprabha river, environmentalists have claimed that the flow of water towards Goa has reduced in the last three years.
On Friday, WRD Assistant Engineer Deelip Naik and his team along with environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar visited the Barazan waterfalls and Kalasa site, where they noticed that water levels had decreased.
“We will record our observations and submit a report to WRD Acting Chief Engineer Shrikant Patil,” said Naik.
When contacted, Rajendra Kerkar said the Kalasa nallah had been degraded for about 2 kms from its source, as work of the underground concrete canal had been completed.
“On account of this construction, water levels have reduced in the nallah, which has, in turn, affected the Barazan waterfalls,” said Kerkar.
