Goa CM-led delegation to meet Javadekar to counter Mhadei River issue

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday will lead an all-party delegation to meet Union Minister Prakash Javadekar to counter the issue of Mhadei River. The project by the Karnataka government, envisages diversion of water from the Mhadei basin, to the deficit basin of the Malaprabha river also in Karnataka, apparently for drinking water purposes.

Speaking to ANI, Sawant said that he would urge Javadekar to withdraw the letter written by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to a Karnataka government agency.

"We will oppose the issue of Mhadei River at every appropriate forum, whether it is the National Green Tribunal or Supreme Court. We will express our opposition wherever needed," Sawant said on the sidelines of a ceremony in Raj Bhavan on Sunday.

In this regard, Sawant had issued a letter to Javdekar last month demanding to withdraw the clearance given to Kalasa-Banduri drinking project on the Mhadei River. In his letter Sawant wrote:

"As approval from environmental considerations has been granted by the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate (MoFE) change for the diversion of Mahadayi waters to Malaprabha basin through Kalasa-Bhandari, alleged for drinking water purposes, by the state of Karnataka.The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which was adjudicating the disputes between Goa and Karnataka for sharing water has given its award in August 2018. However, Section 5(3) of the ISWD Act allows the parties to seek clarification from the Tribunal regarding the Award. Accordingly, certain clarifications have been sought from the Tribunal by all the three parties."

The tri-state issue

Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra have conflicting interests on the issue of sharing Mhadei River water. While the river originates in Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa and briefly in Maharashtra. According to reports, Karnataka aims to use the water from the Kalasa Banduri project on the Mhadei to irrigate its water-scarce northern districts. However, its two northern neighbours are concerned that it would affect their supply of water from the river.

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(With Inputs from ANI)