Mhadei diversion letter kept
in abeyance
Sandesh Prabhudesai
21 September 2002
While
the dispute over releasing the Cauvery water to Tamil
Nadu has complicated further, Karnataka has received
a setback on yet another water dispute issue - diversion
of Goa’s famous Mandovi river.
The
centre has kept the controversial letter in abeyance,
issued by the Central Water Commission to Karnataka
five months ago, giving in-principle clearance to partly
divert water of river Mhadei.
“This
is our first victory”, claims chief minister Manohar
Parrikar. Goa’s all-party delegation had urged prime
minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to withdraw the letter
and act against the officer who had issued such a letter.
Though
around 80 per cent of Mhadei river - known as Mandovi
later – flows through Goa, Karnataka plans to divert
the water at its origin in its own territory, to Malprabha
river. Goans are already up in arms against the plan,
as this would result into the whole of North Goa getting
dried up.
CWC
secretary B N Nawalawala, in the meanwhile, had issued
a letter to Karnataka on 30 April, one day prior to
his retirement, granting in-principle clearance to divert
7.56 TMC of water for drinking purpose in Hubli and
Dharwar.
Following
objections from the Goa government and allegation that
Nawalawala was gifted with an extension for the ‘illegal’
job, the secretary was shifted immediately. His controversial
letter has also been now kept in abeyance.
The
centre has also urged both the states to resolve the
issue with an agreement, failing which the water resources
ministry plans to set up a tribunal to settle the dispute.
Goa however maintains its earlier stand not to allow
any kind of diversion as it would spell ecological doom
for the whole Sahyadri range.
Karnataka
plans to construct at least seven dams and three hydroelectric
projects, by diverting the water to river Malprabha.
Goa covers 1580 sq kms of the catchment area of Mhadei
basin while Karnataka covers only 375 sq kms. It also
includes 76 sq kms of catchment area in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile,
the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan has sought PM’s appointment
in the first week of October, besides all other concerned
union ministers. “Rather than throwing the ball in our
court, the centre should play negotiator’s role and
tell Karnataka to wind up the Mhadei project”, states
Nirmala Sawant, the president.
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