the goan I network
VASCO
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha on Thursday accused Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar of evading the issue of withdrawing the letter granting Karnataka the Environmental Clearance for the Kalsa-Bhandura water project.
In a press note, Saldanha said the central government and the Karnataka government are well aware that Goa is totally dependent on the Mhadei river for its fresh water, while Karnataka has seven fresh water rivers that can provide it with drinking water.
“It will be criminal on the part of the Central Government to deprive Goa of its drinking water as it is an accepted fact that the diversion of the Mhadei water will leave the state of Goa totally parched as Goa’s famous river Mandovi, the only source of Goa’s drinking water will gradually but definitely dry up”, said Saldanha.
“At the last site inspection carried out at Karnataka’s Belgaum district, at which then speaker Pramod Sawant, many other ministers, legislators and I were present, it was very evidently observed how the Mhadei waters were fraudulently being diverted through hidden
pipes.”
“It is extremely important that a similar site inspection be conducted once again along with representatives of the two respective states so that fraudulent measures resorted to by the Karnataka Government to divert the Mhadei waters can be exposed and justice can be rendered to the people of Goa,” said Saldanha.
The Cortalim MLA lauded the stand taken by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to stand by the people of Goa in case the letter granting EC is not withdrawn at the earliest
“This is one time, I am sure, when all the people of Goa will stand united because this is the fight for survival. We have to let the Central Government know that we, the people of Goa, will not allow the Centre to treat us like second class citizens by pushing on us projects that are detrimental to the state and its people,” concluded Saldanha.
