Digambar warns Karnataka on
Mhadei
Sandesh Prabhudesai
16 August 2002
Goans will not lag behind in cutting
hands of those who try to cut the lifeline of Goa by
diverting water of river Mhadei, said power minister
Digambar Kamat, warning the Karnataka government on
the issue.
The state-wide awareness campaign of
the Osmitai Jyot (Identity Torch) of Goa Yuva
Mahotsav was launched at the hands of the power minister,
at a function jointly organised by the Konkani Bhasha
Mandal and Vivekanand Kala Sadarikaran Manch in Valpoi
on the Independence Day.
Around 600 students and youth as well
as writers, artists, educationists and thinkers from
all over the state had assembled in the taluka town
of Sattari taluka on the occasion. The Identity Torch
will tour the whole state with similar programmes, to
be culminated on 19 December, the Goa Liberation Day.
While speaking further, Kamat urged
the need for all Goans to unite and foil the conspiracy
hatched by the Karnataka government to convert Goa into
a desert by diverting water of river Mhadei. Though
the government is trying its level best to scuttle these
plans, he however appealed to the people not to leave
everything in the hands of the government but also come
forward and build a people's movement by forgetting
all the petty differences. He also complimented the
young artists for beginning the campaign.
To begin with, Kamat handed over the
torch to the Yuva Sankalp of Sanquelim on the
occasion. A similar function will be now held in Sanquelim
on 18 August at 3 pm. Earlier, the young artists marched
around the town, shouting slogans against Mhadei diversion.
Kamat then performed a pooja of the kalashi filled
with Mhadei water.
While presiding over the function held
at Laxmi Memorial hall, Mhadei Bachao Andolan president
Nirmala Sawant also asserted that it is time for all
the organisations and political parties to stand together
as a strong rock to challenge the threat. She also cautioned
that all the political parties in Karnataka have supported
the plan of the Congress government there, to divert
the Mhadei river.
Sawant also regretted that some petty-minded
elements are trying to create a rift among Goans by
raising unwarranted issues and divide the people's movement
against Mhadei diversion. While complimenting the Osmitai
Jyot, she also expressed full-fledged support of
the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan to the awareness campaign.
Prof. Prakash Paryekar on the occasion
informed the gathering that the river diversion will
affect 27 villages and the traditional 'puran sheti'
in Sattari alone while it would be a similar fate of
all the villages situated around the Mhadei river, which
joins the Arabian sea as river Mandovi.
Prof. Purnanand Chari reminded the
gathering that it was Shenoi Goembab who had inspired
the Goans years ago to protect the Goan identity. On
the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary,
when the government is celebrating it as the Identity
Year, it is our bounden duty to come forward to fight
for river Mhadei and protect our identity at any cost.
He also warned that any attempt to divide the Goans
by raising petty controversies will be foiled with an
iron hand.
The function began with a welcome song
on river Mhadei. KBM president Prof. Sham Verenkar welcomed
the gathering while Ganesh Shetkar, president of the
Vivekanand Kala Manch proposed a vote of thanks. Prashant
Naik compered the function.
The programme was followed by a cultural
events like street plays, mime and songs related to
the Mhadei issue. Students and youth from Keri, Thane,
Charvane, Golali, Hivre, Koparde, Massode, Dabos, Nanod,
Sonal, Savadde Tar and Morle colony villages of Sattari
as well as groups from different parts of Goa were present
at the function.
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