PANJIM: Due to several errors committed by the ruling class and the State officials while handling the issue, Goa is in a difficult situation when it comes to defending the Mhadei River case.
Will Goa’s position on Mhadei be aided by the House Committee’s structure? Will the planned Expert Committee have enough time to gather evidence to support Goa’s position? Or is Goa’s sole option to win the Supreme Court case?
spoke with activists and environmentalists to learn what they had to say.
It has no meaning, according to historian and Save Goa Save Mhadei Front member Prajal Sakhardande. Just an eye wash, really. They lack any research or scientific evidence. It is only a committee for buying time. It is necessary to incorporate experts. A report by a House Committee without any research on the subject cannot be presented in front of the Supreme Court.
Why was the House Committee established, said activist and Save Goa Save Mhadei Front member Adv. Hrudaynath Shirodkar? This demonstrates that they are attempting to learn more about the problem even though they are unaware of it. There isn’t any more time for any expert research. They immediately headed off after receiving all the information and instructions from Rajendra Kerkar and Nirmala Sawant. With the Goa administration putting out a compelling argument, the Supreme Court is now the only remaining option.
Lawyer and activist Mahesh Mhambrey said, “Why was it thought that the House Committee needed to be formed right away? Since 2012, the BJP has held office as the ruling party. Simply trying to trick fool here. However, Goans are not fools. The committee is currently without hope. This procedure is pointless. Everything relies on how we present our case to the Supreme Court.
Former Union Minister Ramakant Khalap stated, “Let’s see how the House Committee performs now that it has been established. However, the Supreme Court is where we must push our case. We must make it clear to the Court that if one river is diverted, Karnataka would follow the same rule for all other west-flowing rivers. With the assistance of an expert council made up of environmentalists and hydrologists, among others, much more scientific evidence has to be gathered. We shouldn’t discuss whether there is time or not; instead, we should make every effort possible, he stated.
Former Chief Engineer for Water Resources S T Nadkarni stated, “Considering the Government of India’s conduct, litigation before both the Apex Court and NGT appears reasonable. Additionally, efforts should be made to identify technical clearance loopholes and highlight how two wildlife sanctuaries are being diverted, which would definitely have an impact on hotspots in the Western Ghats.
The House Committee’s first meeting’s procedures did not give Mhambrey much hope that Goa would receive any tangible benefits, he continued. Additionally, political grand-standing and point-scoring have obscured the problem. I think it’s a complete waste of time.
“The Supreme Court is our final hope, and time and time again, the nation’s top court has protected the interests of our State. One example is the decision against duplicate tracking through Mollem, according to Velsao founder and Goencho Ekvott founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues.
Will you start a war when the enemy is at your door or call a conference to gather experts on the best defense tools?
JACK IS A DULL BOY WHEN HE DOES NOT PLAY: Without taking a break, committee members are working diligently to carry the fight to Karnataka. All they need right now are professionals to show them how to do it. However, the truth is that the BJP and the Home Minister believe that Karnataka has already defeated Goa in the Mhadei conflict. Therefore, the diligent House Committee currently investigating the implications of Mhadei’s diversion won’t stop it. By now, they ought to be more successful in courtrooms than in committee meetings.
