PANAJI
The Mhadei Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) will conduct a site inspection of the Mhadei River basin on July 4 with the State government set to make its submission before the committee.
The government had recently urged outgoing Chairman P M Scott to convene a meeting and inspect the site. In response to the reminder, PRAWAH conveyed to the State about scheduling the inspection on July 4.
Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar informed The Goan that WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami and Assistant Engineer Dilip Naik have been assigned to accompany the team during the inspection. “Whatever submissions need to be made will be done by them,” the minister said.
The PRAWAH members' four-day visit includes two days in Goa and one day each in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
"It is just an acquaintance inspection. We will explain them... The members will inspect the basin Goa for two days followed by their inspection in the two neighbouring states," the CE told The Goan.
Anjunem dam, Surla falls, River Valvanti, Uskem, Cumbharjua, Amthane dam among other places will be inspected from the Goa side.
The site of the Kalasa-Bhandura project at Kankumbi will also be inspected as Goa has accused Karnataka of diverting the flow of water into Goa from this point. The number of lift irrigation projects constructed by Maharashtra and Karnataka along the river will also be checked. After the inspection, the Committee will meet in Bengaluru on July 8.
Notified in May 2023 following a request from the Goa government, the Jal Shakti Ministry appointed its members and a part-time director only in July, while the three states waited until September 2023 to nominate their representatives.
The incumbent chairman, a member of the Central Water Commission, was appointed for only three months or until a regular chief was appointed, or until further orders. The Union Ministry is likely to appoint a new head for PRAWAH and has communicated fresh recruitment rules to Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to appoint new full-fledged members.
