Consent granted after Goa and Karnataka’s approval
PANAJI
In a significant development, PRAWAH granted its consent to Maharashtra’s Virdi irrigation dam project, across the Kattika Nullah, a tributary of the River Valvanti, following no objection from Goa and Karnataka.
The environmentalist claimed that the project, the work of which had commenced in 2006, has not obtained any requisite Environmental or Wildlife clearance, despite the fact that the proposed project site is located just 3 km from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that Goa, as well as Karnataka, has granted its consent to the Virdi dam project DPR and accordingly, PRAWAH has approved it.
To provide drinking and irrigation water to Virdi, Terekhol, Matne, Vazre and other villages of Dodamarg taluka, Maharashtra had begun the work of the earthen dam in 2006 in Virdi, across the Kattika Nullah, which joins the Haltara Nullah at Kakandyar in Virdi.
The project was halted by the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal in 2015 after Goa brought to its notice that the dam work at Virdi had been started without obtaining the mandatory clearances. The Tribunal had directed Maharashtra to resume work only after obtaining the approvals.
“It is surprising to see that Goa granted its consent to the Virdi dam, for which Maharashtra has not obtained any permissions, including EC and Wildlife clearance,” environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said. He said that the project work had started in 2006 and, till now, 70 per cent of the work is completed.
Kerkar said that the Tribunal, in its final award, allocated 1.33 tmc feet of water for in-basin use to Maharashtra and PRAWAH, approving the revised DPR, has allowed the use of an additional 0.56 tmc of water from the Mhadei.
