Panaji
Following the all-party meeting, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday said that he would attend the meeting with chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka over the Mhadei water diversion, even as he stated that Goa’s interest would not be compromised.
The all-party meeting was called by the chief minister to discuss and decide on the stand to be taken by the State in view of the suggestion given by the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) regarding reaching consensus through out-of-court settlement with regard to the sharing of Mhadei water.
Speaking to media persons, Parsekar said, “Respecting the suggestion MWDT, it would not be proper to refuse the Tribunal’s proposal. I will attend the meeting, but we will have to take care that Goa’s interest will not be compromised at any cost through this meeting.”
He however informed that all present at the meeting were unanimous that when the case is moving ahead, Goa should not get involved into discussion with other states as it would affect the outcome of the case.
When asked if Goa was looking at an amicable solution, he declined to comment.
The meeting was attended by political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Goa Forward, representatives of Mahadayi Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, Additional Solicitor General Atamaram Nadkarni, and cabinet ministers, among others.
However, during the meeting some participants raised apprehensions about the chief minister attending the meeting with Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Luizinho Faleiro said, “All of us were of the opinion that the chief minister should not attend this meeting as till date the developments that have taken place in Karnataka, are against law. They have no respect for the law of the land. Mhadei basin is not only directly connected with Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, but is also connected to the Western Ghats.”
Stating that Mhadei is essential for Goa’s survival, he said, “Mhadei is our survival. It is our lifeline and when Karnataka has constructed thousands of crores worth canals to divert the water where is the question of going and having a discussion with the other chief ministers. There is nothing to be discussed. We are virtually dragged to the wall.”
He however informed that they requested the chief minister not to attend the meeting,
“However everybody felt chief minister should not go. But we said if you are going then you ask them to demolish whatever they (Karnataka) have done illegally. You can tell them to declare the biodiversity sensitive areas that they have not declared.”
Nirmala Sawant, who was spearheading the Mahadayi Bachao Abhiyan, said, “We were of the opinion that the chief minister should not go. But as a strategy, chief minister cannot refuse. So, he should attend the meeting but not compromise the interest of Goa.”
