MARGAO
Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on Friday demanded to know from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant the status of the State of Goa’s contempt petition filed in the Supreme Court with regard to diversion of water from Mhadei river by the State of Karnataka.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the three-time Congress MLA, representing Curtorim Assembly constituency, reminded that the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar has the softest of the soft corner towards State of Karnataka as he has been condoning its illegal endeavour of diverting water of Mhadei river.
“You may not like it but it is true that Prakash Javadekar has been unfair and undemocratic towards Goa when it comes to protecting our State’s right on Mhadei. Last year in October 2019, Prakash Javadekar had the audacity to tweet that the Central government had given Environmental Clearance (EC) for Karnataka on Kalasa-Bhandura for drinking water project,” he said.
Looking at the unfriendly Central government’s vibe towards Goa on Mhadei, Reginaldo once again with folded hands appealed to the Chief Minister to safeguard the interest of Goa by ensuring that the waters of River Mhadei is not diverted but continuously flows towards Goa for our livelihood and for our posterity.
Making a fervent plea to the Chief Minister to take everyone in confidence be it politicos, activists, the people of Goa in general and forge a unity of Goemkars to fight for the right of Goa on the waters of Mhadei river, Reginaldo said he is sorry to state that unlike the unity displayed in the State of Karnataka on the issue of Mhadei waters, the Goa government is lagging in taking a lead in displaying unity of Goemkars on the crucial issue of Mhadei waters.
He reiterated that he would completely support the Chief Minister’s endeavour to protect Goa’s cause on Mhadei waters and all other issues engulfing Goem and Goemkars.
