Panaji: Goa Forward Party on Wednesday said that the action of Union Environment ministry to keep the letter on Mahadayi river written to Karnataka in abeyance is ‘just a consolation.’
GFP Chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters on Wednesday evening that Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar seems to be more ‘succegado’ (laid back) than Goans considering the pace at which he has kept the letter in abeyance.
The GFP has said that they are not happy with the action to keep the letter in abeyance but instead it should have been revoked or withdrawn.
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry in October, 2019 had written a letter to Karnataka exempting them from having Environment Clearance (EC) for one of its project on Mahadayi river.
Goa government and opposition parties had strongly opposed the letter. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had led all party delegation to New Delhi on November 04 to meet Javadekar demanding that the letter be kept in abeyance or withdrawn.
“Almost one and half month after our visit, the minister has acted. Javadekar seems to be more succegado then Goans. The central government has delayed on their part to take action,” Sardesai said, talking on the sidelines of ‘Mahadayi Maha Arati’ held as a mark of protest by NGO Progressive Front of Goa.
“This is not what we had demanded. This is just a consolation. What we had demanded is revocation or withdrawal of the letter which has not yet come. This is minimum that Prakash Javadekar could have done,” the former Deputy Chief Minister said.
He claimed that the letter was issued to Karnataka without application of mind and in a fraudulent manner.
Sardesai said that by keeping letter in abeyance, Goa government and Centre was “trying to pacify Goans till new year.”
“BJP-led Governments in Goa and Centre are not ready to take a firm step on this issue. Till the firm decision is taken, the lifeline of Goa remains threatened,” he said.
Sardesai said that the Goa and Central government cannot be trusted with regards to Mahadayi.
