Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Dec 25: In what can stoke the Mahadayi river controversy between Goa and Karnataka further, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has once again said that drinking water project on the river need not require Environment Clearance.
Javadekar in his letter written to Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday has said that Kalsa Bhanduri project on Mahadayi river does not require Environment Clearance.

Similar letter by MoEFCC on October 17, 2019, had created controversy in Goa following which State Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had to intervene.

On December 18, Javadekar after his meeting with Sawant in Delhi had kept the letter in abeyance.
The letter on Tuesday has further stoked the issue as the communication to Karnataka by Javadekar clearly states that EC is not required for the Kalsa Bhanduri project.

“Let me make the position clear. Government of India has not kept in abeyance EIA notification 2006 and has also not kept in abeyance the rule which clarified that drinking water projects do not require EC,” Javadekar has said in the letter.

“Karnataka can start the work on Kalsa Bhanduri Nala project after gazette notification of the Tribunal and necessary forest and wildlife permissions,” the letter adds.

While Sawant was not available for his comments immediately, Progressive Front of Goa, an NGO which has been agitating on the issue, has demanded the resignation of the chief minister.

PGF leader Hrudaynath Shirodkar said that Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javdekar has made a mockery of Goa on the eve of Christmas.

The letter which had kept his earlier communication to Karnataka in abeyance has been left redundant after the U-turn letter, he said.

“Javadekar had assured that he would protect the interest of Mahadayi. CM Pramod Sawant had assured that he would not let even a single drop of Mahadayi water from being diverted,” he said.

“On Christmas Day, the BJP government has backstabbed Goans. I demand the resignation of Dr Pramod Sawant on this issue,” he said.

“Javadekar has said that there is no need for EC. He says that the letter of keeping his earlier communication in abeyance has no meaning,” Shirodkar said.

“Javadekar has sold Mahadayi for his selfish interest. We need not sit at home and relax on Christmas day,” he said.

“We demand that CM should resign because he has failed to protect Mahadayi. The letter was kept in abeyance due to interference of the Governor,” he added.