Nawalawala out, tribunal of
Mhadei asssured
Sandesh Prabhudesai
6 August 2002
The long-drawn out inter-state water
dispute of river Mhadei between Karnataka and Goa is
now expected to be resolved by constituting a judicial
tribunal on the issue as the central government has
replaced the controversial secretary of the union water
resources ministry.
While making an announcement in this
regard in the House yesterday, chief minister Manohar
Parrikar said the newly appointed water resources secretary
A K Goswami has given a firm assurance in this regard.
Goswami has been appointed in place
of controversial secretary B N Nawalawala, whose ouster
was demanded by the all-party delegation of Goa that
met prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as union
water resources minister Arjun Charan Sethi last week.
One day prior to his retirement in
March this year, Nawalawala had issued a letter to Karnataka,
giving in-principle clearance for diversion of Mhadei
water partially for the purpose of drinking water in
Dharwar and Hubli.
Based on this letter, the Karnataka
government had however moved to the NTPC, seeking permission
to set up a hydroelectric project while the water dispute
issue is still not decided. In the bargain, Nawalawala
had managed to get extension.
The controversial secretary is now
being appointed as the advisor to the union water resources
ministry.
According to Parrikar, Goswami has
also assured to keep the order of in-principle clearance
in abeyance till the tribunal resolves the matter.
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 water to river Malprabha.
The official figures indicate that
Goa covers the catchment area of 1580 sq kms of the
Mhadei basin while Karnataka covers only 375 sq kms.
It also includes 76 sq kms of catchment area, which
falls in Maharashtra.
Unlike Karnataka, Parrikar claims that
Goa has prepared a master plan for use of Mhadei water,
including generation of hydroelectric power to the tune
of 100 MW. He also informed the House that the state
will need around 2674 million cubic metres of water
by 2005, but the existing water availability is only
1531 million cubic metres.
Meanwhile, the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan
has here started mobilising public opinion by organising
public meetings even in villages across Goa border,
in the hilly regions of Karnataka, which will be equally
affected with water diversion.
The young artists of Sattari, belonging
to the Vivekanand Kala Manch, have also started street
play campaign in villages while several panchayats as
well as organisations have started writing to the centre,
urging the authorities not to allow water diversion.
More
about Mhadei
Your
Comments Please
