Panaji/Hubballi: Ruling out a solution for the Mahadayi water dispute with the neighbouring states on the party lines, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accused Karnataka of planting an ecological bombs by building dams on Mahadayi river path.
State government has come up with certain strategies to counter the problems arising out of the water dispute issue involving Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, CM Parrikar stated speaking in Goa assembly on August 2.
Karnataka and Maharashtra have planned dams across Mahadeyi River, which meets Arabian Sea near Panaji. Fearing ecological destruction in the small state, CM Parrikar hinted at obstructing Karnataka’s plans to construct 7dams and 3 hydroelectric projects by diverting the water to river Malprabha.
Parrikar said during a discussion on the issue during the Zero Hour, “Interest of the state cannot be compromised on party lines,a co-ordinated effort is essence of the hour”
Parrikar sounded confident of convincing his Party’s counterpart at the helm in Maharashtra, but as far as Karnataka was concerned, with assembly elections round the corner there would be lot of one-upmanship in the state in the run up to the polls.
While raising apprehensions on Karnataka’s stance, Parrikar also accused the state “not telling the entire truth”, referring to his states’ stand before the Water Dispute Tribunal.
Parrikar provided statistical data along with scientific evidence to justify his claim that Karnataka aims to plant eco-bombs (construct dams) detrimental to the environment of Western Ghats.
He also cited Karnataka’s involvement in disputes with most neighbouring states on water sharing but failed to reveal his strategies to counter water dispute.
Constructing dams upstream will increase the salinity in the rivers of the state and indirectly asked Karnataka to take few lessons on effective management of available water resources.
