from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Aug 24: Goa's Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has demanded union government's intervention to resolve the unilateral decision of the Karnataka Government to divert the river of the Mhadei river.

Naik said in his Special Mention on Monday that Karnataka Government plans to construct seven dams and three hydroelectric projects by diverting water of river Mhadei.  Karnataka Irrigation Minister has announced that they would  commence the work on October 2,2006.

He said, Goa would be affected the most as the river, also known as Mandovi, would literally dry up. Goa covers the major catchment area of 1580 sq km of the Mhadei basin while Karnataka covers 375 sq km. The catchment area in Maharashtra however is only 76 sq km.   Goa has objected to the diversion of water from Mhadei basin to Malprabha river, which is part of the Krishna basin.

Naik said as per the national guidelines, no water can be diverted from one basin to the other without an inter-State agreement.

There are nine river basins occupying the 3702 Km2 geographical area of Goa State –Terekhol, Chapora, Baga, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Salauli, Talpona, and Galibag.

The Madei/ Mandovi is the biggest river basin in Goa State draining an area of 1580 Km2   i.e. 42.70 percent of geographical area of Goa State, Naik said.

The important tributaries of the Mandovi in Goa State are the Madei, the Surla, the Kotrachi, the Ragda, the Khandepar (Dudhsagar), the Kudne, the Valvat, the Bicholim, the Assonora and the Sinkerim.  Besides, parts of Tiswadi, Bardez, Bicholim,Ponda talukas and entire area of Sattari taluka of North Goa District and part of Sanguem taluka of South Goa District lie in the Mandovi river Basin  in Goa, he added.