CWC letter over Mhadei creates
flutter
Sandesh Prabhudesai
9 May 2002 .
Goa has demanded a thorough inquiry into
the alleged misconduct of an official of the Central Water
Commission, for indirectly favouring Karnataka in the ongoing
water diversion dispute.
A letter written by a senior CWC official
to the Karnataka government that the state will be allowed
to divert water of Mhadei river has created flutter in the
state here, on the eve of Assembly elections by the month
end.
"I have written to Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee as well as the CWC to conduct an inquiry
into the misguiding letter", confirms chief minister Manohar
Parrikar.
The matter of water diversion of Mhadei
is still being heard before the CWC. Karnataka plans to
construct seven dams and three hydroelectric projects by
diverting water of river Mhadei, which originates in Karnataka
but flows down through Goa to join the Arabian sea as river
Mandovi.
According to Parrikar, the letter states
about allowing Karnataka to use 7.5 TMT of Mhadei water
for drinking water purpose for Hubli and Dharwar, once the
CWC allocates the quota for Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
"Though it is a fact that Karnataka may
be allocated not more than 15 per cent of Mhadei water,
it is too premature to make any commitments in this regard
to any state when the matter is still being heard", states
Parrikar.
The chief minister however firmly feels
that no state will be allowed to construct even a single
major dam anywhere in the Mhadei region, due to ecological
reasons. "At the most small bandharas will be allowed",
he adds.
Karnataka not only has plans to construct
dams but even hydroelectric projects, once the water is
diverted from Mhadei basin to Malprabha river, which is
part of Krishna basin. In fact, the southern state has even
sought a green signal from the NTPC for the hydroelectric
projects.
"What difference does it make ? The NTPC
cannot give them water", quips Parrikar, while Karnataka
politicians have been using these letters to woo its electorate
and create confusion in the tourist state, for whom Mhadei
is their lifeline.
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