the goan I network
MAPUSA
Maintaining that the opposition was trying to take political mileage by criticizing the government on Mhadei issue, Waste Management Minister, Michael Lobo on Thursday also admitted that at times concessions by way of letters were given to Karnataka for political reasons.
“The letter to the Karnataka government does not specify environmental clearance to the Kalsa-Bhandura project. Time and again such letters have been issued…Sometimes letters are also given for political reasons,” Lobo said while addressing the media during his weekly sojourn in Mapusa.
The waste management minister maintained that the letter issued to the Karnataka government was in no way an environment clearance as impact assessment was yet to be carried out on the project.
“Everyone should understand that by-polls are scheduled in that State. Political situation is not very good over there. There could also be fresh elections in the State. But we should not get distracted by any letters issued to them,” he said.
The Union Minister of Environment, Prakash Javadekar’s recent tweet suggesting that the Centre has given environmental approval for the Kalsa-Bandura drinking water project in Karnataka had raised a storm in the State with opposition and the NGOs questioning the State government’s complicity in the decision.
Incidentally, in a similar incident a letter issued in December 2017 by former chief minister, late Manohar Parrikar to then Karnataka BJP President, B S Yeddyurappa, granting in principle nod to sharing Mhadei water for drinking purpose, had sparked a political row in the State and was widely seen as a gambit to help BJP in Karnataka assembly elections.
Slamming the opposition and particularly leaders of the Goa Forward Party, the waste management minister said there were attempts to mislead the people of the State.
“For the last ten days there has been a lot of criticism against the chief minister by a former minister. This is nothing but a hypocrite way of showing that we are concerned and the government is not,” Lobo said.
He said two years back when an inspection trip was arranged to visit the
Kalsa-Bhandura project site only six MLAs participated and the GFP leaders including the former WRD minister were not part of it.
He said the GFP has now gone and filed a case in the National Green Tribunal only to draw political mileage.
“These people will not be able to revive their political career nor survive in politics by indulging in such cheap theatrics,” Lobo hit out.
He said the State government was very sensitive to the Mhadei issue and will not compromise in the matter.
Mhadei is the lifeline of Goa and any diversion of its water has been resisted by the people as it would hurt the fragile ecosystem of the coastal State.
Similarly, Mhadei and Cauvery river water issues are sensitive in Karnataka and political parties have long since tried to resolve the disputes with neighbouring states to reap political dividends.
