PANAJI
The special allocations in the Union budget for poll-bound Karnataka specifically for irrigation and drinking water works has deepened concerns in Goa over the vexed dispute over the neighbouring State's plans to divert waters of the Mhadei river.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a Rs 5,300 crore outlay for the Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project, which is meant to benefit the drought-prone areas of Central Karnataka.
Although Karnataka may not be able to divert these funds for the Kalasa-Bhandura project on the Mhadei river it is expected to give the State financial flexibility and make it easier to provide funds to execute Mhadei water diversion plans.
After the announcement, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the finance minister for the allocation.
Concerns in the context of the Mhadei dispute in relation to the special allocation of the Rs 5,000-plus crore funds for irrigation and drinking water to Karnataka was raised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Benaulim legislator Venzy Viegas, who is a member of the House Committee set up by the Goa legislative assembly to go into the river dispute.
"It will be a death-knell for Mhadei and Goa," Viegas said in a reaction he posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
Viegas said, although the allocation may not be for the Mhadei project it will give that State elbow room to juggle its funds and make it easy for them to execute the Kalasa-Bhandura projects which are a bane for Goa.
Former legislator Radharao Gracias also raised similar concerns.
"Amit Shah has handed Mhadei to Karnataka. Nirmala Sitharaman provides the finance. Mhadei bye-bye: 5,300 cr Central aid to poll bound Karnataka for Irrigation (Today's Budget announcement)" Gracias said in a post on Facebook.
