Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Mhadei PRAWAH authority is scheduled to meet on December 24 to discuss and finalise the procedure for granting approvals to new irrigation and drinking water projects proposed within the Mhadei river basin.
Sources said the issue of framing a clear approval mechanism was taken up during the authority’s earlier meeting, following which member states — Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka — were asked to submit their suggestions. While Karnataka forwarded its views earlier this month, inputs from Goa and Maharashtra are still awaited and are expected to be discussed at the upcoming meeting.
Apart from clearance norms, the authority will also review details of existing, ongoing and proposed irrigation and water supply projects in the Mhadei basin. Member states had earlier been directed to furnish comprehensive information on major, medium and minor schemes for assessment and record.
Administrative matters will also feature on the agenda, including approval of recruitment rules for non-statutory posts and deputation of officers from the participating states. Although an organisational structure comprising 45 posts has already been sanctioned, routine work is presently being handled by officers of the Central Water Commission holding additional charge. Recruitment rules have now been prepared and are likely to be placed for approval.
The meeting is also expected to discuss infrastructure-related issues, including the setting up of a permanent office for the authority. While a temporary office is currently functioning from Sinchai Bhawan, work is underway to renovate a dedicated building at Porvorim. The Goa representative is likely to brief members on the progress and on efforts to identify land in Panaji for a permanent office location.
