PANAJI: MLAs, ministers, former MLAs and ministers remained unanimous on ‘no compromise on Mhadei' at the Legislators Day function on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering, Former MLA and Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan President Nirmala Sawant appealed for pressure on the BJP-led State Government to not compromise on the issue of sharing Mhadei water with Karnataka.
"To protect Mhadei there is a need for all of us to come together and put pressure on CM and move forward. As responsible and experienced leaders we have to find a solution to this," she said
"If we do not protect the Mhadei, then Goa's various activities will come to a halt including agriculture. There will be no fish; if the flow decreases, there will be no transportation and it will lead to a chaotic situation", she pointed out.
Sawant submitted a memorandum to all present at the function stating that they are opposed to the inter-basin transfer of Mhadei and not opposed to sharing water with Karnataka within the basin.
"Karnataka does not need water for drinking and instead they need it for irrigation of sugarcane fields. In 2008, there was a charter of demand Jal Suraksha which they did not follow so there was a shortage of water," she informed.
Stating that the Constitution gives both Goa and Karnataka the right over water, she said, "The river is 105 kilometres, of which 29 kilometers flows in Karanataka, 4 kilometeres in Maharastra and 82 kilometres in Goa. So when it will be divided they will get their share and there is no dispute over it. Within the basin they can use it. But diverting it and taking it in Malaprabha basin and further to Hubbali and Dharwad is not even within the framework of law."
Sawant also informed that Karnataka has already cut 16,000 trees and are in the process of further felling 12,000 trees in kankumbi.
"I think the willingness shown by CM to hold bilateral talks with Karnataka over sharing drinking water is merely for namesake. Among all chief ministers, Parrikar is the only CM who has shown sensitivity with regard to Mhadei. So I am of the opinion that he will not destroy it. But my intellect tells me otherwise", she stated
"I am not aware of any out of court settlement and when after we spend so much of time in the tribunal, what is need for settlement now? But will they keep quiet if we share water with them. They are fighting with all the neighbouring states over water. Can we trust this state?", she said.
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CALL TO PRESSURISE CM
* She said, if we do not protect Mhadei, then Goa's various activities will come to a halt including agriculture and there will be no fish
* To protect Mhadei there is a need for all of us to come together and put pressure on CM and move forward said Nirmala Sawant
* If the flow of Mhadei decreases, there will be no transportation and it will lead to a chaotic situation, she pointed out
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No compromise,
says dy Speaker
PANAJI: Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said that there is no compromise on the Mhadei issue, while speaking at Legislators' Day.
"When we speak about Goa and Goans, we have to first think about Goa's interest. There is no compromise on the issue of Mhadei at all. Irrespective of political parties, we all as Goans, ex-legislators and ruling MLAs; everyone has to be united," he said.
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