the goan I network
PANAJI
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat on Thursday urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to reconsider his decision not to present a whitepaper on the Mhadei imbroglio and warned that the whole of Goa could turn into a “desert” if the State government fails to take sensible and quick measures in the dispute with with Karnataka.
Kamat said, Sawant should reverse his decision to reject the Opposition’s demand for a whitepaper on steps taken from the State’s side in the dispute. Kamat said the entire State could transform into a ‘desert’.
“The white paper on Mhadei will bring out all facts and figures. Let people know from documents ‘Who did What, When and Why’ for our lifeline ‘Mother Mhadei’, Kamat said, adding that he hoped Sawant will accept the demand to come out with a white paper.
The Mhadei controversy heated up in Goa’s political waters after Karnataka got a major boost with the Supreme Court directing the Centre to notify the August 2018 award of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal. The award grants Karnataka some 15-odd TMC water from the Mhadei basin, including 3-odd TMC for diversion into the water-deficient Malaprabha basin.
The controversial Kalasa-Banduri dam project is being strongly opposed by Goa government, which has filed an appeal against the award.
On Wednesday, Sawant had ruled out acceding to the Opposition’s demand to present a whitepaper on the issue.Meanwhile reports said that a high level Karnataka team of leaders including two Union Ministers - Pralhad Joshi and Suresh Angadi - and three Karnataka Cabinet Ministers - Ramesh Jarkiholi, Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai - met Union water resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The Karnataka team urged the Central minister to notify the Mhadei tribunal award at the earliest and also sought the Centre’s support to launch drinking water and irrigation projects in their State.
Three memorandums were presented to Shekhawat including one which sought early notification in the gazette of the the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal Award.
