MARGAO
Environmentalist from Belagavi, Capt Nitin Dhond, has warned that any attempt to divert the Mhadei river water will destroy Goa’s marine ecology and could lead to the desertification of North Karnataka.
Capt Dhond made a PowerPoint presentation on the “Impact of Mhadei River Diversion on Goa & Western Ghats” at a programme organised by Goa’s Nature Goa’s Future, on the initiative of Velim MLA Cruz Silva in Margao on Friday.
He said environmentalists in Karnataka are trying to inform people about how diverting Mhadei river water will harm both Goa and North Karnataka.
“What these people are trying to divide is the contemporary boundaries of river Mhadei. The project diversion will destroy the rich flora and fauna of the western ghats as well as the marine ecology of
Goa,” he said.
He added: “Those in favour of diversion of Mhadei river in Karnataka say that water from the river goes waste in the sea. The water flowing to the Arabian sea do not go waste. In fact, the water carries to the seat nutrients which help the marine life and fish production along the coast of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Any diversion of the river will result in ingress of saline water into Goa causing environmental disaster.”
Capt Dhond also said that the Karnataka government wants to divert Mhadei river water to support sugarcane factories coming up in the state. “On paper they say that the river water needs to be diverted to cater to the drinking water requirements. In reality, however, the water is proposed to be used for the sugarcane factories,” he added.
He warned that diverting Mhadei water will affect rainfall in the Khanapur region, pushing North Karnataka towards desertification.
