It appears the Centre and the state government are working in tandem to destroy Goa. In a statement yesterday at Hubballi, the Union Minister for Parliamentary affairs opined that the proposal to notify a tiger reserve in Goa connecting the big cat's corridor and the classification of these forests as eco sensitive zones are standing as hurdles against Karnataka getting approval for it's Mhadei water diversion project. Recently the High Court of Bombay at Goa had directed the state government to declare Mhadei wildlife sanctuary and peripheral areas as a tiger reserve. Without clearances being granted Karnataka has already begun large scale diversion of the Mhadei waters to feed sugarcane plantations in Dharwad and Hubballi and industries downstream. What is the benefit of purported progress if Goa loses it's forest cover, flora and fauna to benefit a neighbouring state. Karnataka has many rivers to tap but for Goa, Mhadei is the only major river whose waters cater to the needs of half of Goa's population. The HC's tiger reserve judgement is in fact a Godsend for Goa, but the saffron regime is hellbent on having things it's own way.