In Goa, when you speak of the Mhadei or Mandovi river, it is considered more than a river by many people. She is a mother who has nurtured the biodiversity of Goa for thousands of years.
However, now this river in Goa is under tremendous threat due to the construction of several dams in Karnataka.
A RALLYNG CRY FOR MHADEI
Goans are now fighting fiercely to save the water of this river under the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT), that adjudicates the dispute over the sharing of water from the Mhadei river between the states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Various facets of this river were discussed recently at the inaugural session of Miramar Dialogues, organised by WWF-India, Goa, at its Miramar office.
Environmentalist and coordinator of the Goa River Conservation Network, Rajendra Kerkar, in his address, stated that now is the time for Goans to come forward to save the Mhadei river.
Various facets of this river were discussed recently at the inaugural session of Miramar Dialogues, organised by WWF-India, Goa, at its Miramar office.
DAM DISASTERS AND WATER DIVERSION
He said that there was a need for more research and documentation as even small things matters when it comes to its conservation.
He gave the example of how the Union Environment ministry denied Environment Clearance (EC) for the Kalasa project of Karnataka, when it was shown that the forest is a tiger corridor area.
Kerkar said that declaring a Mhadei Tiger Reserve in Goa will definitely help to save the diversion of water. But, there is still no final notification on the same. He added that the disasters caused by dam constructions are evident for all to see.
DANGER FOR THE VALLEY
He added that these dams are not the typical dams as the water diversion will completely destroy the Mhadei valley.
It highlighted that Karnataka had finished the marking work for dam constructions in a way that would completely redirect the flow of water from the Mhadei basin to the Malaprabha basin.
It highlighted that Karnataka had finished the marking work for dam constructions in a way that would completely redirect the flow of water from the Mhadei basin to the Malaprabha basin.
WATER NEED FOR ALL
Associate professor of Konkani at the Goa University, Dr Prakash Parienkar, who has written an extensive book on the Mhadei, titled, Mhadei-Kallzantlyan Kagdar.. (an eco-anthropological study of Mhadei river basin) said that there is a misconception that only humans need water.
“What about plants, trees, birds, butterflies, animals of the Mhadei valley. It is their habitat. How they will survive?” he asked.
CONCERNS OVER BANDHARAS
He pointed out that the construction of bandharas by the Goa government on this river would have a negative impact on its biodiversity, especially the riparian forest, river fish diversity, and could also result in flooding.
He said that the water from four or five talukas was sent to the Opa pipeline to supply water to cities, and in turn, for construction of mega projects, etc.
He pointed out that the construction of bandharas by the Goa government on this river would have a negative impact on its biodiversity, especially the riparian forest, river fish diversity, and could also result in flooding.
LOOMING WATER CRISIS
Kerkar said that the Mhadei is not really a big river (it is 111 km long) as is projected by Karnataka. It is a water-deficit river and provides water to 43 per cent of Goa’s population. He warned that if no measures were taken in due course of time, then in the next 24 years, Goa would face huge water problem.
Parienkar emphasised the urgent need for robust scientific data on the Mhadei river. He urged botanists, zoologists and students to come forward to collect this data, and present it to the government.
NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC DATA
He stated that institutions like the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) should conduct research on the river's biodiversity, salinity levels, and the species that are under threat.
Both Parienkar and Kerkar stressed that obtaining accurate scientific data is crucial to saving the Mhadei river.
The session was moderated by herpetologist and founder of the Mhadei Research Centre, Nirmal Kulkarni.