Panaji – Government has not done any Site Inspections in Mhadei Basin to check illegal construction activities by Karnataka from April 2023 till September 2024. I dare WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar to place in public domain all Inspection Reports to prove me wrong, challenged Congress Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar.
Addressing a Press Conference at Congress House along with NGDC President Virendra Shirodkar and Sanquelim Block President Mangaldas Naik on Reports of Karnataka restarting the Works without Wildlife Board Approval, Amarnath Panjikar termed BJP Government headed by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant as spineless.
It is shocking that the BJP Government’s WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar replied to Goa Legislative Assembly in August 2023 that “No work is being carried out on site” based on the Inspection Reports of 4th April 2023. On what basis Government assumed that no works were carried when no Site Inspections were actually done after April 2023? questioned Amarnath Panjikar.
I have a LAQ Reply of March 2023 which states that “Physical visit to Kalsa and Bhandura Site is not possible as Karnataka is physically obstructing such visits. At one point of time, Karnataka Police had detained the Officials from Goa during a Site Inspection”. This shows the cowardliness of the BJP Government in Goa, charged Amarnath Panjikar.
I want to bring it to the notice of Goans that the Inspections carried out by Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) from 4th July to 7th July 2024 were just for “Familarisation of Mhadei Basin” and not to check Illegal Activities of Construction and Diversion. This is replied by the Government in July 2024, claimed Amarnath Panjikar.
Congress Party MLAs had moved 5 Amendments to the Government Resolution on Mhadei which was adopted by the Goa Legislative Assembly on 19th January 2023. These amendments included (1)Withdrawal of DPR for the Project that Diverts the Waters, (2) Central Government must stop giving approvals to Karnataka for Projects on Mhadei, (3)Goa Government shall start works of Bandharas on River Mhadei, (4) Goa Government to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as “Tiger Reserve” (5) All 40 MLAs of the Assembly will resign if Central Government refuses to Withdraw DPR in 15 days, stated Amarnath Panjikar.
We were fully aware that the constitution of Water Management Authority like PRAWAH will not be of any help to Goa and hence the Amendment moved by the 3 MLAs had no mention of Water Management Authority, pointed Amarnath Panjikar.
Unfortunately, Government included only one Amendment of “Urging Withdrawal of DPR” and included establishment of Mhadei Water Management Authority” in the said Resolution. Today, PRAWAH has turning out to be a Liability for Goa, Amarnath Panjikar said.
BJP Government has spent 63.61 lakhs on visits of various Delegations, Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers to Delhi and other places pertaining to Mhadei Water Dispute from 2012 till date. Government has also spent 12.44 Crores on Legal Matters pertaining to Mhadei Water Dispute, said Amarnath Panjikar.
Congress Party will remain vigilant on every move of the Government. We are committed to protect our Lifeline Mother Mhadei, reiterated Amarnath Panjikar.
