PM accused of being partial
on Mhadei
Sandesh Prabhudesai
8 August 2002
Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
has been accused of being partial towards Karnataka
for political gains while deciding upon the inter-state
water dispute between Goa and the neighbouring southern
state.
The opposition Congress here has pounced
upon the PM for the eyewash action of replacing the
union water resources secretary, but not keeping the
objectionable letter he issued in abeyance.
B N Nawalawala, the union water resources
secretary, had issued the 'in-principle' permission
letter to Karnataka to divert 7.56 TMC water of river
Mhadei, one day prior to his retirement in March this
year. In the bargain, it was alleged that Nawalawala
managed to get an extension in his service.
Goa PCC president Nirmala Sawant, who
also heads the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan here, feels that
Nawalawa's replacement could be a mere eyewash as neither
he was suspended for the illegal act of issuing such
a letter nor his letter has been kept in abeyance till
date.
The order of replacing Nawalawala with
A K Goswami came soon after the all-party delegation
from Goa met the prime minister last week, headed by
Goa's BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar. The delegation
had also demanded that Karnataka should not be allowed
any kind of construction along the Mhadei river.
Mhadei, though originates in Karnataka,
flows mainly through Goa to join the Arabian sea as
river Mandovi. By diverting its water to river Malprabha,
Karnataka plans to construct seven dams and three hydroelectric
projects. If diverted, the whole of North Goa will dry
up, having severe ecological and economic effect on
the tourist state here.
Ms Sawant feels that inaction from
the PMO is a clear indication that the central government
is more worried about the strength of MPs in Karnataka
compared to only two Goan MPs. Though admits that Karnataka
is presently ruled by the Congress, she claims that
almost all the political parties including the BJP is
favouring water diversion there.
Dayanand Narvekar, another Congress
leader and former irrigation minister, fears that Karnataka
was in position to complete the work in this season
itself to divert minimum two TMC of water, if the permission
letter was not withdrawn immediately.
While the environmentalists here have
also warned that diversion of water will destroy the
western ghat in the coastal region, there has been anxiety
as the southern state has already cut parts of the forest
area and built around 50 metre long road in their region.
While dismissing the allegation, local
BJP president Laxmikant Parsekar has accused the Congress
of politicising the issue. The state unit however plans
to persuade further action on the issue through party
president Venkaiah Naidu, who is visiting the state
tomorrow.
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