PANAJI
While Karnataka continues to mount pressure on the central government seeking approvals for Kalsa-Bhandura project via Mhadei river diversion, the Goa Government’s seriousness in handling the matter is evident from the fact that despite an assurance to hold House Committee meeting on Mhadei post Ganesh Chaturthi, the Minister for Water Resources Department (WRD) Subhash Shirodkar is still waiting for the “right time”.
The 12-member House Committee, constituted to study the contentious issue related to Mhadei water diversion in January, last year, has met only once in February, 2023. Despite assuring on the House floor during the Winter Session to convene a meeting before February 29, the Minister failed to follow through.
In August, the Minister announced that the House Committee will meet post Ganesh Chaturthi, which took place in the first week of September.
Now, when contacted, Shirodkar told The Goan “will let you know…will call at a right time”.
When pointed out that Karnataka has recommenced diversion work and is also mounting pressure on Centre for clearance, the Minister said “let them do whatever they want…we have full confidence that Centre will not grant them any permission without consulting us…also our case is very strong before the Supreme Court”.
The House Committee has members from across all parties -- BJP, Congress, MGP, GFP, AAP, RG and Independent MLAs too.
Since the House Committee was formed in January 2023, Goa has been left stunned and shocked by Karnataka's actions, yet there has been no response.
The State, whose more than 50 per cent of the population depends on Mhadei river for its survival, is just banking on the special leave petition and the contempt pleas filed before the Supreme Court -- the matter which was supposed to come up for hearing in August.
At the first House Committee meeting it was decided to appoint a panel of consultants and experts of national repute to study the consequences of the diversion of the Mhadei to Goa. However, there has been no such move in this direction, so far.
