the goan I network
PANAJI
Under fire from political opponents, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said, Goa will officially demand immediate withdrawal of the “consent letter” granted to Karnataka for a drinking water project at Kalsa-Bhandura and denied that it was an “Environment Clearance” as widely reported in the media.
“There is no ‘Environmental Clearance’ given regarding Mhadei water but still we will ask the Center to withdraw the consent letter given to Karnataka government,” Sawant said, adding that
the MoEF&CC letter imposes several conditions including the need to get clearances from Wildlife Board and other forest clearances.
Sawant said there was no question of any compromise on the Mhadei issue, for political or any other reasons.
“If the letter is not withdrawn, we will appeal against it before the NGT,” Sawant said, adding just because there is a BJP government in Karnataka there is no question of any compromise on our interest vis-a-vis Mhadei waters.
Sawant said, he had met Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan chief Nirmala Sawant and environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar on Thursday and conveyed his government’s strong stand on the issue.
“Officials of the Water Resources Department, WRD Secretary and all have sat down the whole day today and minutely analysed the consent letter which is on the MoEF website. We will send a point by point letter in which we will demand withdrawal of the consent letter,” Sawant said.
The chief minister who was accompanied by WRD Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues said, he will take up the matter to the highest level, including with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to ensure that the letter is withdrawn.
Sawant also said, Goa will demand in the same letter a joint site inspection of the site at Kalsa-Bhandura to survey all the work carried out there by Karnataka.
“A technical team from Goa, Karnataka and the MoEF&CC will have to conduct the inspection to ensure that no illegalities are committed in terms of the Tribunal Award which allowed Karnataka to divert some 5-odd TMC of water,” Sawant said.
He, however, did not come out clearly to say whether the MoEF&CC had erred in granting the consent letter to Karnataka without consulting Goa despite being aware that the matter had been fought in courts, a Water Dispute Tribunal and continues to be sub-judice before the Supreme Court.
Sawant also opined that there was no lapse on the part of any authority of the State
government, adding however that he will seek clarifications from the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar. Sawant said, he had already spoken to Javdekar on phone and the latter has conveyed that he relook the issue after his return from an official tour to China.
Sawant also revealed that Rajya Sabha MP, Vinay Tendulkar has already submitted a letter to the MoEF&CC demanding the withdrawal of the consent letter granted to Karnataka and the Goa government’s detailed written submission will be submitted on Friday. BJP has no regard for laws: Congress
PANAJI: The Congress said that Union Minister Prakash Javadekar’s tweet announcing that EC had been granted for the Kalsa Bhandura drinking water project in Karnataka clearly indicated that the BJP had no regard for the laws and court.Vijai demands CM’s resignation
PANAJI: Smarting over his and his party’s forced mid-July exit from the government, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai on Thursday hit out at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and demanded his resignation for his “failure to protect” the State’s interest on the Mhadei issue. Referring to the MoEF clearance for the water project, Sardesai said it’s shocking that the Sawant government had failed to even be aware that Karnataka had formally sought such a clearance.
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Govt incapable: AAP
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party said EC granted to Karnataka exposes two facts -- that all three Goa MPs and the Goa govt are incapable and as such did not follow up Goa’s case, and that BJP has sabotaged Goa’s case for the party’s interest in Karnataka.
