Panaji: The opposition parties in Goa slammed BJP-led government in the state for failing to protect interests of River Mahadayi after Supreme Court’s interim order on Thursday allowed Karnataka government’s plea for implementation of the final award by a tribunal for sharing water from the river.
While BJP Goa spokesman Dattaprasad Naik reacted that the party will respond through a press conference, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat termed it as a Black Day for Goa.
Naik who had called for a press conference to criticize Congress for their protests over anti-reservation policy said that his party would react for Mahadayi verdict by holding a press conference.
Congress MLA Kamat said that it is a black day in Goa as “state government remains silent on Supreme Court’s decision to notify the ward of Mahadayi water dispute tribunal diverting water.
“Black Day in Goa’ as Goa government remains silent on Hon’ble Supreme Courts decision to notify the award of Mhadei (Mahadayi) Water Dispute Tribunal diverting water from our Lifeline Mother Mhadei (Mahadayi) to Karnataka. We will now intensify peoples agitation against the insensitive Government,” Kamat said.
The Supreme Court in its interim order on Thursday allowed the Karnataka government’s plea for implementation of the final award by a tribunal for sharing of water from the Mahadayi river between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Hemant Gupta after hearing the counsel from the three states. The bench said the final hearing in the matter will take place in July.
It also said the interim order is subject to the final outcome of the petitions filed by the three states against the tribunal’s award.
Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai said that BJP-led state government played into hands of Karnataka.
“Reliably known that Karnataka prayed to go ahead for gazette notification of Mhadei Tribunal order. Goa didn’t object! And played into the hands of Karnataka which can now officially go ahead with Khalsa-Bhanduri project as @PrakashJavdekar promised Bommai in letter on 24/12/19!,” Sardesai tweeted.
AAP Goa said that BJP’s betrayal of Goa on Mahadayi is out in the open and CM should resign.
“At every stage in the fight to protect Goa’s interest over Mhadai (Mahadayi) water rights , the BJP Government which is uninterruptedly in power in Goa has betrayed the cause of Goa said the Aam Aadmi Party,” AAP Goa spokesman Valmiki Naik said.
Naik said that in the light of Supreme Court order allowing Karnataka’s plea to direct the Centre to notify the Tribunal water distribution award, it was clear that Goa has never had a government like the present one that placed the party interest above that of the state.
“The weak presentation before the Supreme Court of our case , the unwarranted letter to Yediyurappa by the then CM late Parrikar and targeting of people who were raising their voices for Mhadai (Mahadayi) rights are several instances of betrayal by this government,” he said.
“Not only today’s but generations to come will not forgive them. The CM should resign,” he added.
