MoEF keeps in abeyance letter to Karnataka on Mahadayi project
New Delhi, Dec 18: In a reprieve for Goa, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) on Wednesday kept in abeyance its letter earlier written to Karnataka stating that its proposed Kalasa Banduri project on Mahadayi river does not need an environment clearance (EC).
The MoEF's move comes after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is in New Delhi to attend the GST Council meeting, met Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday, seeking withdrawal of the letter.
Soon after the meeting, the MoEF wrote to Chief Engineer, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, informing that it was keeping in abeyance its letter written on October 17, 2019.
The Kalasa Banduri project is aimed at providing drinking water to three important districts of north Karnataka- Belagavi, Gadag and Dharwad- which go parched in summer due to acute water scarcity.
The project involves diverting water from Mahadayi river, the lifeline of Goa, into the Malaprabha river.
However, the Goa government had strongly objected to the MoEF's October letter and demanded that it should either be withdrawn or kept in abeyance.
On Wednesday, MoEF's Deputy Director Mohit Saxena on wrote to Karnataka that based on the facts made available subsequently to this ministry, it is observed that applications for clarification of the award of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal dated August 14, 2018, filed by the government of Goa and Karnataka are still pending.
"The award has also been challenged by the State of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra before the Supreme Court," the letter reads.
"In Special Leave Petition filed by the State of Goa, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the State of Karnataka," it added.
"Pending resolution of all these cases related to the matter, the letter issued earlier by this ministry is hereby kept in abeyance," it said.
However, Opposition parties in Goa sought complete withdrawal of the MoEF's October letter to Karnataka.
Leader of Opposition in Goa Legislative Assembly, Digambar Kamat, said the letter should not be merely kept in abeyance, but "withdrawn".
"The decision of @moefcc @PrakashJavdekar to keep the illegal letter issued to Kalasa Bhandura project in abeyance needs to be examined cautiously," he said in the tweet.
"I urge @goacm to demand withdrawal of letter," Kamat tweeted further. Its proved that @BJP4India used the letter for political gains in Karnataka. @INCGoa," he said.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte also joined Kamat in expressing dissatisfaction over the development.
"The decision by @moefcc @PrakashJavdekar to keep the EC in abeyance is adding insult to injury! #Goa is being treated like a joke and our representatives as jokers.
Immediate and complete withdrawal of EC is the only acceptable solution to #KalasaBanduri".
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) thanked Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik for his "pro-active role" in the MoEF's move to keep the letter in abeyance.
"#GOA WINS! On #Mhadei, we've won a battle by getting @moefcc to keep the clearance letter to Karnataka in abeyance.
I thank the Hon Governor's pro-active role, our govt's intervention, the other political parties, NGOs and other Goemkars who came forward in Mhadei's defence," GFP chief Vijai Sardesai said.
"But let's not lower our guard. I would request every #Goemkar to be vigilant and not let anyone spring any surprises on #Mhadei. I request the Govt to keep an eye on the project site and monitor any activity that questions our position or undermines our interests. #Together4Mhadei," he added.
"However complete withdrawal of the clearance by @moefcc to Karnataka was what was expected. Keeping it in abeyance is yet another temporary solution. We need a permanent solution which is nothing but the unconditional withdrawal of the clearance letter," Sardesai said in another tweet.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
