Karnataka has already diverted 90% of the Mhadei River water and if the current level of diversion of water continues, Goa will face severe water shortage soon, Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Dr Pramod Sawant claimed on Monday.
Sawant, who returned on Monday, after a day-long tour to the disputed canal construction site in the Mhadei River basin in Karnataka’s Belgaum district, the Speaker also said, that he would be submitting his report to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar about his inspection visit soon.
“I have seen almost 90 per cent of the river has been diverted and the nallah is constructed on the river. Construction has been carried out for around five kms to divert the water to the Malaprabha (basin),” Sawant said.
Sawant visited the disputed canal site along with a team of former legislators, sitting MLAs and journalists from Goa.
Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are currently battling a dispute over the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura dam project across the waters of the Mhadei River at a central tribunal.
Mhadei also known as the Mandovi River, is known as a lifeline in the northern parts of the State. It originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji in Goa, while briefly flowing through the territory of Maharashtra.
Karnataka also aims to build seven dams at various points along the river, including at Kalsa village, aimed with an objective to divert the flow into what it claims is the water-starved Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka. The State has demanded that Goa should allow the transfer of over seven TMC water to tide over its irrigation and drinking water needs.
A recent letter by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to his Karnataka counterpart BS Yeddyurappa offering to discuss possible sharing of drinking water on humanitarian basis had triggered a war of words between the Congress and the BJP in both States.
Last week, pro-Karnataka groups also staged a day-long strike in protest against the Centre’s alleged apathy over the Mhadei dispute issue.
Sawant claimed, that while civil society in Karnataka had displayed alertness and alacrity over the issue, Goans, he claimed were not proactive enough. “They have shown seriousness. Goans have not shown seriousness, although the Government is fighting in court,” Sawant said.
“I will submit my report to the CM to tell him what the situation is. If this continues in the coming 15 years there will be severe water shortage in Goa,” Sawant also said.