PANAJI
Raising suspicion over salinity study in Mhadei river basin at the end of rainy season, former Public Works Department minister Sudin Dhavalikar while objecting to such study has alleged that this may be the backdoor plan to allow Karnataka in diverting Mhadei River.
On Thursday, two scientists from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee have visited to conduct a salinity study in Mhadei river basin.
“Goa witnesses one of the highest rainfalls in India, and just when we are at the end of this rainy season, there is no doubt that salinity in the Mhadei river will be lowest if compared throughout the year. I hope this is not another backdoor plan to allow Karnataka in diverting Mhadei River,” said Dhavalikar while objecting to the study.
If this salinity report is considered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to give any NOCs (like they did in past) for river diversion then it will be a catastrophic disaster. I object to this study as it is not at the right time and has requested Chief Minister to keep a watch on the developments after this report is submitted, added Dhavalikar.
Dhavalikar said that the salinity study has to be started from March 15 and to be conducted in various intervals up to May 15, which will give an exact situation of the rise in salinity in Mhadei river.
He suggested that rather than conducting a study in the upper basin of River Valvanti as water from Anjunem Dam in Chorla Ghat is drained into this river, it is required to check salinity near our water treatment plants from March 15 to May 15 and see how it rises over the time.
