Panaji (Goa) Renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar today informed that apart from diverting Mhadei river water through construction of 12 dams, Karnataka has proposed diversion of water of water from the Dudhsagar water feeder.

Speaking during the awareness session on ‘Mhadei- the Lifeline’ Kerkar said that Karnataka has proposed damns on Maranalla tributaries, Viranjole diversion and at Katla and Palna tributary. “Karnataka has proposed construction of four dams and wants to divert the water from the waterfall to River Kali basin in Karwar,” he said.

 “The State claims that all these diversion schemes are necessary to meet the requirement of drinking water, whereas it has around 20 rivers flowing within having 1000 tmc of water, lying still unused,” he said.

 “If these dams are constructed, then the Khandepar river and Sanqulim river will go dry,” he said.

The awareness session was organized for Ministers, MLAs, ex Ministers and MLAs by the Goa Legislature Secretariat.

Kerkar has asked Government not to compromise on Mhadei issue before Tribunal as it will have larger consequence on the case before Mhadei Water dispute tribunal.