Panaji: The delegation of NGO Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front met Governor P S Sreedharn Pillai on Wednesday seeking his intervention over the crucial river diversion issue.
Prashant Naik, leader of the Front said that they informed the Governor that State government was “not doing enough” to save Mhadei from being diverted by Karnataka.
He said that there are so many things that could have been done by the State government, which are ignored. “For example, the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka and approved by the centre should have been challenged in the Supreme Court, but that has not happened,” Naik said.
Various prominent social workers from Goa including Prajal Sakhardande, Tara Kerkar, Serafin Cota, Vikas Bhagat, Anand Agni, Durgadas Kamat, Hrudaynath Shirodkar, Mahesh Mhambre and others were part of the delegation.
Naik said that the Governor needs to guide the Goa government how to take ahead the Mhadei river issue.
Sakhardande, who is a renowned historian, said that Governor should prevail upon the Goa Government that Mhadei issue should be taken seriously.
“Goa is a small state and we cannot do without Mhadei. The diversion will severely affect Goa in many ways,” he said.
Social activist Serafin Cota said that the Governor had a wrong impression that the agitation that we (the NGO) has started was with political intentions.
“We clarified to him that we don’t have any political intentions in taking up this issue. We are concerned about the state,” he said.
Lawyer-cum-social activist Hrudaynath Shirodkar said that the water from Mhadei is being diverted for Sugar cane cultivation in Karnataka and a particular lobby was impressing upon the centre to allow the diversion.
