All-party delegation for Delhi
on Mhadei
Sandesh Prabhudesai
11 July 2002
An all-party delegation from Goa is
planning to air-dash the national capital, to meet central
authorities on water resources and oppose Karnataka's
sinister designs to divert water of river Mhadei without
sanction.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar today
confirmed that the delegation will meet union water
resources minister Arjun Sethi on 26 July, amidst the
monsoon Parliament session. It will include leaders
and presidents of all the parties that represent in
the Assembly.
"We will also demand sternest action
possible against water resources secretary B N Nawlawala
for manipulating a letter to release water to Karnataka",
said Parrikar.
Following a verbal complaint in this
regard made to prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
the state government has also officially written to
Vajpayee as well as Sethi in this regard.
Mhadei originates in the forests of
Karnataka but flows mainly through Goa to join the Arabian
sea as river Mandovi. Karnataka however plans to construct
at least seven dams and three hydroelectric projects,
by diverting the waters to river Malprabha.
The official figures indicate that
Goa covers the catchment area of 1580 sq kms of the
Mhadei basin while Karnataka covers 375 sq kms. It also
includes 76 sq kms of catchment area, which falls in
Maharashtra.
While the matter is still pending before
the CWC, Nawlawala has reportedly issued a letter to
the Karnataka government, allowing diversion of 7.56
TMC of water, once the matter is decided. Based on this
letter, Karnataka has already assured drinking water
for Hubli and Dharwar, besides seeking NTPC permission
for hydroelectric purpose.
"I have also written to the forest
and environment ministry not to allow any of these projects
as they would prove ecologically disastrous", says Parrikar.
With the all-party delegation, he in fact plans to demand
to sack Nawlawala for issuing the illegal letter.
According to Parrikar, Karnataka government
has managed the letter by giving service extension for
Nawlawala. The southern state has also manipulated figures
to show water shortage in places like Hubli and Dharwar
when there is ample water for drinking and irrigation
purpose, he adds.
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