PANAJI
The Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony’s recently concluded familiarisation visit regarding the Mhadei water dispute did not include a visit to Parwad nullah, the starting point of the diversion.
The reason: Reluctance from Karnataka officials -- a strategy they previously used during a Supreme Court committee visit.
However, the Goa government claims that the reverse flow of water was evident and documented during the field visit. “Even a child could figure out the reverse flow, and when we say rainfall helped us, it indeed helped us. The reverse flow was clearly visible and even documented by PRAWAH officials. This nullah has seen one meter of excavation,” sources told The Goan.
It is also reliably learnt that the Committee visited the Kalsa interconnecting conduit, which connects Mhadei water to Malaprabha. Here, its officials, unable to avoid the visit, allegedly tried to mislead PRAWAH Chairman P M Scott but were confronted by Goa counterparts.
“The Karnataka officials tried to mislead the Chairman by claiming the conduit point was actually Malaprabha. Goa’s Secretary for Water Resources was immediately alerted and he corrected the Chairman. Goa was vocal about Karnataka misleading the Committee, after which all the members, including the Chairman and officials walked another 500 meters from this point. PRAWAH was convinced Goa was correct,” the source said.
At the other nullah point, PRAWAH officials observed an eight-meter excavation and an incomplete structure. “The water was flowing through the debris,” the source stated, adding that this evidence has also been documented for drafting the report.
Sources said the Chairman will likely submit the report before his term ends this month. The report will be forwarded to all party States including Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. If necessary, copies will also be submitted to the Supreme Court and the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal, where the matter is currently pending, as well as the Centre.
“The report will be in the public domain… The Chairman is determined to complete the report before retiring this month. The States don’t have to wait long,” the source revealed.
