Amit Shah’s Mahadayi comment was to appease voters: Rane

Panaji: Health Minister of Goa, Vishwajit Rane, dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah’s recent pro-Karnataka comment on the Mahadayi inter-state water dispute as a mere electioneering statement, and said the party chief had Goa’s interests at heart.

“In an election many statements are made. I am confident Amit Shah will ensure that the interests of Goa are protected irrespective of whatever statement may have been made. We are confident that he will take the right decision,” Mr. Rane said, at a press conference here on Friday.

Election rally

At a poll rally in Karnataka, Mr. Shah promised to resolve the Mahadayi dispute in six months and said waters from the multi-State river would flow into Karnataka.

BJP’s South Goa MP and State unit spokesperson Narendra Savoikar also had said last week that irrespective of Mr. Shah’s comment, the BJP in Goa had faith in the Mahadayi Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal, which is due to deliver a verdict on the issue.

Mr. Shah is scheduled to visit Goa on Sunday. Mr. Rane said, “We will have a discussion with him. A man of his stature will take the right decision.”

Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are locked in a legal battle over the Kalsa-Bhandura dam project across the Mahadayi. While Karnataka aims to divert water from the Mahadayi basin to the nearby Malaprabha river basin, Goa has opposed it.

The tribunal is expected to give its verdict in a few months