PANAJI
Raising serious doubts over the Goa government’s intent and handling of the Mhadei river dispute, the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) on Friday demanded a white paper on the functioning of the Legislative Assembly’s House Committee on Mhadei and the dedicated Mhadei cell constituted under the Water Resources Department (WRD).
Addressing a press conference, MBA secretary Rajendra Kerkar alleged that while Karnataka was moving ahead rapidly with its plans, the Goa government and its machinery were taking the issue casually. “It is easy to say Mhadei is a mother, but what is the government doing to protect the mother? Are WRD officials visiting the site to understand the ground reality?” Kerkar questioned.
He demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to direct PRAWAH to undertake a site inspection to ascertain the ground realities of Karnataka’s alleged violations. He said that Karnataka was pressing for a site inspection after the monsoon, which, he claimed, would prevent the diversion from being exposed on the ground.
Kerkar also questioned the functioning of the Assembly’s House Committee on Mhadei, saying it had met only twice and was no longer meeting or discussing the issue. He similarly sought a white paper on the dedicated Mhadei cell in the WRD.
Kerkar said there was no scope for resolving the dispute through “friendly or brotherly” relations, alleging that the issue had gone beyond that with Karnataka illegally diverting Mhadei water.
He also questioned the role of the Opposition, particularly Congress MLAs, saying it was their responsibility to raise the issue forcefully in the Assembly. “We have never heard the Opposition being vocal on the issue,” he said.
MBA convenor Nirmala Sawant alleged that the Centre-appointed PRAWAH committee was listening to Karnataka’s objections to a site inspection, raising concerns over the manner in which the mechanism was functioning.
Sawant said the state government should expedite the Mhadei case before the Supreme Court and press for an early hearing, while also seeking expeditious implementation of the tribunal award.
“Why is the government failing to press for a Supreme Court hearing? Why is our government and legal team not making efforts?” she questioned, adding that the organisation had “strong doubts” about the government’s intentions on the Mhadei issue.
