AERIAL VIEW
The development comes only a few days after the Goa Government delegation led by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant met him, asking for the withdrawal of approval granted to Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report by the Central Water Commission.
CM Sawant, after the meeting, had said that Shah was sympathetic to Goa’s demands and he would look into the matter positively.
But, in contrast, what followed a fortnight later was “Betrayal”. The Betrayal is not only from Amit Shah but also from CM Dr Pramod Sawant, who has repeatedly said, “Mhadei is my Mother and will not allow even a single drop of water to be diverted.”
So what should one do when their saviour himself becomes the culprit? Why is Dr Pramod Sawant not denying what Amit Shah said? Was he really part of the deal to divert water? Has Goa lost Mhadei Forever? he must tell the people of Goa.
Editor, Goemkarponn
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments in Karnataka have come as a huge shock to every Goan who was hoping against hope that Goa would be successful in saving “Mai Mhadei” from the cruel plans of Karnataka to divert the Goa’s lifeline to Malaprabha Basin.
Any hopes of the Goa Government being able to save Mhadei were destroyed by just one statement of Amit Shah, who, during a rally in Belagavi, said, “I want to congratulate the leaders and Chief Minister of Karnataka that they have taken along the Goa government on the Mhadei issue to quench the thirst of the people of Karnataka. The Chief Minister has done a great job.”
The development comes only a few days after the Goa Government delegation led by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant met him, asking for the withdrawal of approval granted to Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report by the Central Water Commission.
CM Sawant, after the meeting, had said that Shah was sympathetic to Goa’s demands and would look into the matter positively.
But, in contrast, what followed a fortnight later was “Betrayal”. The Betrayal is not only from Amit Shah but also from CM Dr Pramod Sawant, who has repeatedly said, “Mhadei is my Mother and will not allow even a single drop of water to be diverted.”
So what should one do when their saviour himself becomes the culprit? Why is Dr Pramod Sawant not denying what Amit Shah said? Was he really part of the deal to divert water? Has Goa lost Mhadei Forever? he must tell the people of Goa.
Even in the temple of democracy, the Goa Legislative Assembly, the CM swore that he would not allow diversion, the how did he agree to the Mhadei deal?
Truly, Mhadei has been sacrificed at the altar of politics as for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), winning elections in Karnataka seems to be more important to the lives of people and the wildlife in Goa.
For BJP, Karnataka is more important as being a big State; it has 28 Lok Sabha seats and 12 Rajya Sabha seats, while in comparison, Goa has just 2 Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.
So politically and Geographically, the BJP is biased towards Karnataka, and thus Goa becomes insignificant.
The statement of the Goa BJP that the statements on Mhadei have been made by central leaders due to the Karnataka elections also cannot be accepted as soon after the Assembly elections, there would be parliamentary polls, which means the Modi government will try to lure the Karnataka voters into winning all 28 seats.
So it is immature to think that the Centre will give any decision in favour of Goa, at least till the Lok Sabha elections are over in 2024, even if all 40 Goa MLAs tender their resignations en masse.
So it is now for the State government, led by Dr Pramod Sawant, to fight for Goa and Mhadei.
The only hope now lies in the Supreme Court cases, where even now, Goa has the upper hand, according to experts, and the State needs to further take the Goan experts like Rajendra Kerkar and Nirmala Sawant and even, if possible former AG Atmaram Nadkarni on board and fight the case unitedly.
To start with, Goa can always explore the possibility of declaring Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve, which according to Environment Rajendra Kerkar, would solve the whole issue.
