PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday used his own 'Bhivpachi garaz na...' colloquial idiom to convey the message that 'freedom of expression' was not in peril in his administration.
Sawant was apparently referring to the charge of the Opposition that the government was truncating the duration of the upcoming winter session of the Goa legislative assembly, intended to stifle opposition voices, particularly in the wake of the ongoing controversy over the diversion of Mhadei waters by Karnataka.
Speaking at the 'Legislators' Day' event at the Assembly Complex in Porvorim, Sawant asked all MLAs, including those from the Opposition benches, to speak their minds on the Mhadei issue but cautioned them to be mindful that what they speak does not adversely impact the State's legal battle in the Supreme Court.
“I urge MLAs to speak wisely on the Mhadei issue so that it does not have an adverse impact on the State’s case in the Supreme Court," Sawant said.
Speaking his own mind on the issue, Sawant said despite the approval of the DPRs, Karnataka cannot divert Mhadei's waters as the Wild Life Protection Act 1972, bars it.
“We shall fight to the hilt for every drop of Mhadei," Sawant asserted adding that the State will demand that the Centre constitute the Water Management Authority.
He also said that the State will approach the Supreme Court with an application for an early hearing in the matter related to the challenge to the August 2018 award of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who has been a Speaker of the Goa legislative assembly, attended the event where Sawant recalled his contribution to take the Legislature's work paperless.
Several former legislators attended the function held once a year to commemorate the anniversary of the first day of the first session of the legislative assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu in January 1964.
