Shocker for Kannadigas: No water connection in Goa's Bethora

At a campaign in Belagavi, Shah had said that the long-pending Mahadayi water issue had been resolved by the BJP after it allowed water to Karnataka

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The recent statement by Union home minister Amit Shah on the Mahadayi row in Belagavi has led to a backlash at the gram sabha of BethoraNirankal-Conxem-Codar village panchayat in Ponda taluka in Goa, where locals opposed water connections to Kannadigas staying within the jurisdiction of the panchayat. At a recent election campaign in Belagavi, Shah had said the Mahadayi issue had been resolved by BJP after it allowed water to Karnataka by taking Goa into confidence.

Even though several attempts by the sarpanch, Umesh Gaude were made to calm the villagers who were angered by Shah’s statements, the villagers on Sunday forced the panchayat to reject the applications put forward by Kannadigas for water connections. The locals were adamant about not issuing no-objection certificates which are mandatorily required to obtain a water connection, unless and until the neighbouring state stops the Mahadayi diversion.

Gaude’s hour long discussion over the issue, where he made several attempts to make people understand that the resolution was not legally supported, proved futile with the villagers refusing to comply. The controversy has only worsened since Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement of a grant of Rs 5,300 crore for the 'Upper Bhadra' irrigation project in Karnataka.

The Opposition in Goa has alleged that the particular announcement furthers the possibility of Karnataka diverting water from neighbouring states and more so at a time when the BJP is trying to win the maximum seats in Karnataka during the coming election.

Former Chief of the RSS Goa unit, Subhash Velingkar has also reportedly criticised the BJP government on the issue. He has said that the remarks of Shah about the Mahadayi dispute "is a fact" and the state government "is fooling people over the issue".

Goa's Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has condemned the statement of Shah over the Mahadayi diversion issue and has reportedly said, "I don't know how Amit Shah has made this statement when we have not discussed it. Even the CM never discussed it. I condemn the statement tooth and nail. We are against diverting water from Mahadayi basin.”

Goa and Karnataka have been in a dispute over the Kalasa-Banduri dam project across the Mahadayi at a central tribunal. Mahadayi originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji. It traverses 28.8 km in Karnataka and runs through 81.2 km length in Goa. Karnataka hopes to construct dams across the river and divert water into the Malaprabha basin.