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However, the Goa government had strongly objected to the MoEF's October letter and demanded that it should either be withdrawn or kept in abeyance.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of Opposition in Goa Legislative Assembly, Digambar Kamat, said the letter should not be merely kept in abeyance, but "withdrawn".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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
