Karnataka destroys half of Mauli temple to divert Mhadei water
VISHANT VAZE, BICHOLIM | 12 March 2016 21:21 IST
Karnataka’s aggressive illegal act has cost the residents of Kankumbi their Mauli temple, frontal part of which has already collapsed due to the construction of canal to divert the Mhadei water.
According to the residents of the village situated on Goa-Karnataka border, the Karnataka Niravari Nigam seems to be in a frenzy to complete the work before the next hearing of Mhadei water dispute scheduled on 27 February.
As seen in the photographs, the front part of the Mauli temple – Sabhagriha – has collapsed due to the work of the construction of the temple while the adjoining temple lake has also developed cracks.
Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan convenor Nirmala Sawant has sent photographs of this destructive and illegal work to Justice J M Panchal, the chairman of the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal.
He had remained silent when Goa had pointed out that Karnataka is going ahead with the canal work without having environment clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest as well as NOC from the WRD ministry.
Rajendra Kerkar, Goa’s eminent environmentalist and MBA secretary, in fact said there is a reason to raise suspicion when the hearings before the tribunal are continuously adjourned while Karnataka has reached near completion of the diversion work.
After destroying half of the temple, the Nigam officials have now assured to reconstruct the temple once the work is complete.
Hearing the news of the collapse of the frontal part of the temple, former Khanapur MLA Digambar Patil yesterday had a meeting with Kankumbi residents and assured them to take up the matter at higher level.
In Goa, forest minister Rajendra Arlekar and Sankhli MLA Pramod Sawant also expressed disgust over Karnataka’s forceful act without even bothering about the religious sentiments of the people.
While Karnataka is desperately trying to divert the water of River Mhadei to Dharwad and Huballi districts to meet their demand of drinking water, the government of southern state is least bothered about the similar problem people of Kankumbi are facing.
