Goa CM agrees to talk over Mhadei, Nirmala-Kerkar object
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 02 September 2016 21:23 IST
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has agreed to talk to his Karnataka and Maharashtra over the issue of Mhadei water diversion, but Goa Bachao Abhiyan has strongly objected to the suggestion made by the Mhadei water dispute tribunal.
Counsels of all the three states, including Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni representing Goa, agreed to the the proposal.
Justice J Panchal, who had earlier rejected Karnataka’s plea to divert 7.56 TMC water of Mhadei river, has made the suggestion to find an amicable solution.
Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had earlier dismissed all such requests when the case is before the court.
Today however CM Parsekar agreed to talk.
“I am not averse to talks, as long as Goa’s interest is not compromised”, he told the media today.
Nirmala Sawant and Rajendra Kerkar, both the leaders of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan, however said that such talks would definitely hamper Goa’s interest.
Independent MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte as well as Congress MLA Vishwajeet Rane have, on the other hand, demanded a special one-day Assembly session to discuss the issue.
Nirmala Sawant, the President of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan said:
“When the matter of the Mhadei’s damming and diversion is in the process of hearing and cross examination of witnesses is going on, talks for finding out amicable solution are not advisable and result for confusion.
When, the Mhadei river basin has been declared as water deficit by Goa, actually there is no scope for outside diversion of the Mhadei’s water. In order to protect Goa’s interest, MBA has already filed a petition before the Hon. Supreme Court in 2007 which is still pending.”
Rajendra Kerkar, MBA secretary and environmentalist, said:
“Without obtaining any permission either from the Ministry of Water Resources or from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change. Karnataka has almost completed the work of Kalasa canal.
When all negotiations were failed, Goa demanded the constitution of the tribunal in 2002 and accordingly tribunal was constituted in 2010 but becomes operational only in 2013. However, Karnataka has continued the work of the Kalasa from 2006 violating number of rules and regulations.”
