Goa Oppn alleges govt ‘not serious’ on Mhadei diversion issue; CM Sawant says no compromise on matter

“The government is not serious on the Mhadei issue. No one knows who are the members in PRAWAH. There is no meeting of the House Committee. Will the Central government withdraw the Karnataka’s DPR [Detailed Project Report]?” asked Congress’s Yuri Alemao, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

In a written reply to a question by the Opposition MLAs on the status of Mhadei, Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar said the Central Government has notified the Mahadayi Water Management Scheme, 2023, known as PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare And Harmony) in a notification dated May 22, 2023 to give effect to the decisions of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.

Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai, said, “Is the government serious on Mhadei issue? Why is the Goa government not challenging the gradient increased by Karnataka? I urge the government to get a stay on the award as nothing is on Goa’s side as of date.”

Responding to the Opposition, BJP’s Subhash Shirodkar said, “The second House Committee meeting will be held soon after the Assembly Session is over. I am personally monitoring all aspects related to Mhadei. PRAWAH committee members will be appointed by the Central government.”

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the House that there shall be no compromise on the issue of Mhadei.

Goa and Karnataka have been locked in a dispute over the diversion of water from river Mhadei. The tussle assumed greater prominence in December 2022 after the Central Water Commission (CWC) approved Karnataka government’s detailed project report (DPR) for the Kalasa-Banduri project, which seeks to divert waters of the west-flowing streams of Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of the west-flowing river Mhadei, to the east-flowing Malaprabha river.