Goa MPs raising local issues in parliament can better safeguard state’s interests
Sometimes it’s easy to miss out on the fine print and overlook issues related to Goa emerging some distance away. By some coincidence, in the past week, the Rajya Sabha was where two Goa-focused issues came up, both connected to wider concerns.
India’s former prime minister, the ageing H D Deve Gowda (92), was quoted making an emotional appeal to leaders of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to come together to resolve the “major problem” of drinking water in his state. He mentioned Goa specifically, too. This might seem like a rational plea. Yet the complex issue of the Mhadei (Mahadayi, or Mandovi) water dispute between Karnataka and Goa is not primarily about drinking water for Karnataka’s people. Rather, it centres on Karnataka’s desire to divert water from the Mhadei River basin to irrigate drought-prone regions in northern Karnataka (especially Belagavi district) for agriculture and reservoir replenishment. Goa opposes this—even if it could do with more persistence—on environmental and ecological grounds. There are reasons too. The river’s flow sustains sensitive estuarine ecosystems and local agriculture, fisheries and livelihoods in Goa’s coastal belt. In short, the disagreement involves competing needs for irrigation, hydropower and ecological protection. It has led to litigation and negotiations under the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal framework.
Both sides have their claims, but they prioritise different values. Karnataka stresses development and human need in a water-scarce region. Goa emphasises ecological sustainability and downstream rights. The most defensible long-term solution—legally and ethically—might be one that allocates water based on verified hydrology, protects necessary ecological flows, and meets essential human needs. Another issue that came up, also in the Rajya Sabha, was BJP MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade raising concern over the surge in online scams targeting tourists. He urged stringent government action against fraudulent hotel-booking platforms and digital payment frauds, affecting both Goa’s tourism industry and visitor safety.
These issues are real and documented. Tanavade pointed to the noticeable rise in fake hotel-booking websites, fraudulent homestay listings and fake digital platforms that trick visitors into paying advances for stays or services that don’t exist. Goa police data shows authorities have blocked hundreds of fraudulent websites and scam-linked phone numbers. Investigations have also busted some fake hotel scams and tourist-focused fraud rings. However, the fraudsters come up with innovations to hoodwink the police. Locals have lost crores of rupees, and tourists are gullible targets of online scamsters.
In the wider scheme of tourism in Goa, this issue is important but only one of several challenges facing the industry. Currently, tourism also sees tensions over transport pricing, unregulated homestays, beach touts and service quality that can impact visitor experience and perceptions. Digital scams do add risk and damage confidence if not addressed. Tourist safety (both online and on the ground) needs to be taken seriously to maintain Goa’s reputation as a travel destination.
This reminds us that Goa’s representatives in Parliament can indeed serve the state most effectively when they consistently raise issues that deserve national attention. Irrespective of the political parties they represent, the state will benefit more if our MPs continue to raise Goa-related issues. At the same time, citizens back home can strengthen this advocacy by actively feeding their representatives well-documented local concerns, data and lived experiences. Civic groups have a role to play and can use petitions, public meetings and the media. Crafting a two-way flow could indeed help grassroots realities shape parliamentary priorities and lead to the use of national platforms to seek concrete solutions for the state.
