Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Dec 25: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the recent letter by Union Environment ministry to Karnataka on Mahadayi does not damage the rightful claim of Goa in any manner.

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on December 24 (Tuesday) wrote to Karnataka government clarifying that Environment Clearance was not required for Kalsa Bhanduri project on Mahadayi river.

Javadekar’s letter nullifies his earlier communication to Karnataka keeping in abeyance the similar order which had said that EC was not required for the project.

Reacting to the development, Sawant tweeted “I appeal to all Goans not to get panicked by the recent letter of Union Minister-MoEF being circulated in the media. The said letter does not damage the rightful claims of the State of Goa in any manner whatsoever, on the issue of river Mhadei.”

“Moreover, this topic is already before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and hence there can be no work carried out until the matter is decided finally. The public is assured that I remain committed to my stand of No Compromise on the subject of river Mhadei!”.