PANAJI
The Mhadei Progressive River Authority for Water and Harmony (PRAWAH), who held its first meeting on Tuesday, is hopeful that the river diversion issue would be resolved “amicably” by the three riparian States “ Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra through PRAWAH.
The PRAWAH decided to deliberate and settle all issues pertaining sustainable and equitable utilisation of waters of Mhadei river basin between the three riparian States “ Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The authority headed by PM Scott has led it emphasis to ensure that PRAWAH work for harmonious use of Mhadei river water for the welfare of the people of all three States. The Authority has decided to inspect the proposed project site, inspect tributaries and rivers of Mhadei basin.
The meeting was attended by all the three full-time independent members Virendra Sharma (M&R), Manoj Tiwari (Hydrology) and Neeraj Manglik (Environment) and part-time representative members of all the Party States comprising of Subhash Chandra, Secretary, WRD (Goa), Rakesh Singh, ACS, WRD (Karnataka) & Milind Naik, CE, WRD (Maharashtra).
The Authority was constituted on May 22, 2023 to give effect to the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) Award passed in August 2018.
In a press statement issued, the Chairperson stressed that the Authority will endeavour to discuss, deliberate and settle all issues regarding sustainable and equitable utilisation of the waters of Mahadayi/ Mandovi river basin.
“There is a need to work in such a way where ‘conflict’ is substituted by ‘cooperation’,” he said.
Scott said that as the name PRAWAH suggests, the Authority has to be progressive and work for harmonious use of water of Mahadayi/ Mandovi River for the welfare of the peoples of all the 3 states. “The scope of PRAWAH is from the origin of Mhadei upto the sea,” he said.
Speaking to media, Scott said that his is a “historic moment” as all the three States have come together and discussed about the river. “I hope there is some silver lining and ray of hope wherein all the matter regarding the Mhadei basin will be resolved amicably between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra through the authority,” he said.
As per rules, permissions can be granted for diversion of river outside Mhadei basin but a proper protocol has to be followed, Scott said adding that DPRs have to be appraised by the Central agencies and not by party States.
The authority deliberated on various subjects including business rules, manpower and funding. The next meeting of the authority is likely to take place in Karnataka or Maharashtra.
The inter-state water dispute is currently pending before the Supreme Court, who is likely to hear the matter in August. All the three States are directed to submit additional documents with regards to their various petitions filed including challenging the award of the Tribunal.
