PANAJI
Goa's counsel before the Supreme Court of India dealing with the Mhadei imbroglio will present strong arguments whether related to the contempt plea against Karnataka or the very challenge of the tribunal's award when the matter is expected to be taken up in November, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar told the Goa legislative assembly on Wednesday.
Responding to the charges made by the Opposition legislators whilst participating in the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to the WRD portfolio he holds, Shirodkar stoutly defended the government's position and stance on the vexed water-sharing dispute.
Shirodkar said, it is wrong to say that the government has betrayed Goa's cause, adding that tangible success has been achieved first with the speedy notification of the PRAWAH authority besides the somewhat favourable MWDT (tribunal) award of 2018 which allocated much lower quantum share to Karnataka.
"We have to be realistic instead of just going by sentiment. What would have been our (Goa's) sentiment or demands if we were the upstream State rather than the downstream State?," Shirodkar asked, inadvertently indicating a middle path for all three States involved in the decades-long river dispute.
On the question of PRAWAH, the authority which will oversee the implementation of the award, Shirodkar said his department and the government will as soon as possible ensure that a premises and other logistic support is provided to get it going at its designated headquarters in Panaji.
"Prawah is a big administrative success for Goa vis-a-vis the Mhadei issue. NGOs, people and even us (government) will be able to present their case before this authority in Panaji itself, as well as demand an inspection of the work by Karnataka," Shirodkar said.
The minister also spelt out the work, including survey and soil investigation carried out by his department's officials for three dams that are proposed in Mhadei's basin besides the several bandharas which will further buttress Goa's position on Mhadei.
Earlier, legislators cutting across party lines were appreciative of Shirodkar's performance particularly the proactiveness of his office and the WRD in executing work whenever issues related to nullahs, bundhs and such matters are raised.
While almost every MLA who spoke showered praise on him, Shirodkar did get some stick as well, particularly from the Opposition who hurled brickbats at him albeit restricted to the Mhadei imbroglio.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao alleged that almost every communication of the Goa government on the Mhadei issue beginning with the December 2017 letter (of the former chief minister Manohar Parrikar to then BJP Karnataka chief B S Yeddurappa) were "letters of betrayal".
Alemao had also sought a categorical statement from Shirodkar whether the latest judgement of the Bombay High Court for the notification of the Mhadei Tiger Reserve will safeguard the State vis-a-vis the Mhadei issue.
Shirodkar however declined to oblige Alemao arguing that the issue is beyond the exclusive purview of his water resources department.
"On the tiger reserve judgement, the government has taken a stand. Let us not mix it with this Mhadei river dispute," Shirodkar said and skirted the issue.
