MAPUSA
While the Opposition on Wednesday cornered the government for failing to make any headway on the Mhadei river diversion issue, the State government said its legal challenge in the Supreme Court and the formation of PRAWAH indicated that all was well.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai during the Question Hour said that while the Karnataka government was pushing forward in diverting the Mhadei river water, the State government was found wanting in taking proactive action as its advocates were not pressing for contempt proceedings.
“While Karnataka is going on carrying out contempt by diverting the river water, our government is not pushing for contempt to stop them. We need to withdraw the approval granted for the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kalasa-Bhandura (canal) drinking water project on Mhadei and the State government should press the Centre to do so,” Sardesai said.
He said it made no sense when on one hand we fight to stop diversion of Mhadei river water while on the other side the Centre gives a go-ahead to the Karnataka government to build a project in the basin.
“It appears the State government is not at all serious in resolving the Mhadei issue as it continues to make concessions to the neighbouring State,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawat assured the House that the government will never compromise on the Mhadei issue and it was taking all steps, legal and otherwise, to stop diversion of the Mhadei river.
“Our petition to challenge the Mhadei award has been admitted in the Supreme Court and it is a big achievement. Besides, the PRAWAH office will soon start in Goa where we will be able to raise issues on the Mhadei issue,” Sawant said.
Countering the argument, Sardesai said that the SC was presently hearing 2018-19 cases and in such circumstances the Goa government’s petition is likely to come up only in 2025.
Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao said the government was not at all serious in resolving the Mhadei issue.
“There are 14 members on PRAWAH but so far no names have been announced. The government has spent Rs 1.66 crore on 18 lawyers to fight the Mhadei related cases with no tangible result,” Alemao said.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira informed that when the government moved the court it should have immediately asked for a stay on the work.
He further said that PRAWAH has so far been only notified but not yet constituted.
The Fatorda MLA also said the House Committee should monitor all the meetings and day to day proceedings on Mhadei.
Water Resources Minister, Subhash Shirodkar said that the counsels representing the State will plead for staying of the ongoing works undertaken by the Karnataka government when the petition comes up for hearing in November.
“Soon after the assembly we will have a second meeting of the State House Committee on the Mhadei issue,” Shirodkar assured the House.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva said it was sad that one side the water was getting diverted and on the other side public money was getting drained on expenses towards the lawyers.
“The advocates must make a strong case so that our Mhadei is saved,” Silva said.
