VALPOI
Sattari is likely to be the worst affected taluka in the State if Karnataka goes ahead and diverts water from the Mhadei river, with locals alarmed that agriculture, drinking water, irrigation and the Dabose Water Project in Sattari Taluka would be severely affected.
According to local activists, the water from the Mhadei river is sent to the Dabose Water Project, which purifies and provides drinking water to 70% of areas in Sattari taluka. At present, this project has a capacity of 15 MLD and the State government has plans to increase the capacity of this project.
“However, plans by Karnataka to divert the Mhadei water would cause a severe shortage of water to the Dabose project and this will, in turn, badly hit water supply to most parts of Sattari taluka,” remarked Ankush Dhuri, a youth activist from Dabose village.
“Goa and Sattari taluka in particular, will suffer a lot due to this move by the Karnataka government. It is crucial for Goa to take a stronger stand in this matter or else, agriculture, irrigation and drinking water facilities would be wiped out. Then there will be no question of increasing the capacity of the Dabose water project,” said Dhuri.
Raghoba Dhuri, a farmer in Sattari, said bandharas had been constructed on the Mhadei river to increase the water levels for irrigation purposes.
“But with Karnataka planning to divert the water, the water storage capacity of the dams will decrease and it will have adverse effects on agriculture and horticulture, threatening the livelihoods of farmers in Sattari taluka.
Narayan Gaonkar, a social activist from Kumthol-Sattari, feared that life would be ruined in rural areas of Sattari with the depletion of Mhadei water.
“Many villages in Sattari taluka are still facing a shortage of drinking water and if the water is diverted, the next generation will hardly have any water for drinking or irrigation purposes.”
Gopal Gaonkar from Dhave-Sattari said vast areas of land are under irrigation due to bandharas built in the Mhadei river.
“As a result, farmers in Sattari have been able to grow different types of crops in their land, thereby giving them an economic boost. However, these crops will be destroyed if there is insufficient water in the Mhadei river,” said Gaonkar.
Laxman Gavas, a panchayat member from Satre, appealed to people to forget their differences and stands firmly behind the government in its fight to prevent the diversion of the Mhadei water.
