Mhadei: NGO wants aerial survey to check extent of work for diversion

Staff Reporter

Panaji

The Save Mhadei Save Goa Front, on Thursday, alleged that the state government is making “fake and meaningless” efforts to prevent the diversion of River Mhadei by Karnataka.

The front has also backed the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan’s demand for an aerial survey of the Kankumbi region in Karnataka to assess the extent of work done to divert water from the Mhadei basin to the Malprabha basin.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji on Thursday, front member Prajal Sakhardande said, “The way Karnataka is aggressively pushing for the diversion of River Mhadei and the way the Goa government is not taking the issue seriously, the result will be total destruction of Goa’s environment and natural heritage.”

Sakhardande called on the state government to demonstrate its commitment to water security initiatives like ‘Har Ghar Nal’ by giving top priority to the protection of Mhadei.

He accused the government of making empty promises and urged for collective action to protect the river. Advocate Hrudaynath Shirodkar warned that the diversion project could lead to the desertification of the Western Ghats and the drying up of agricultural land in the Khanapur region.

“The farmers from Khanapur are now opposing the diversion as their fields and livelihoods are under threat,” he said.

The front also criticised the Khalsa-Bhandura project, claiming it is designed to serve Karnataka’s coal, steel, and sugarcane industries rather than address genuine water needs.

Mahesh Mhambrey, another member of the front, said, “The government always says Mhadei is more than a mother, but it has failed to protect her. Its actions speak otherwise.”

The front reiterated its demand for immediate and concrete steps from the state government to halt the diversion and safeguard Goa’s water resources and ecological balance.