Mining ban, Mhadei row two major issues in Goa: Tanavade

Panaji, Jan 12 (IANS) Resumption of the Supreme Court-enforced mining ban in Goa and the ongoing inter-state dispute with Karnataka over the waters of the Mhadei river are two of the biggest issues confronting Goa, newly appointed state BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Sunday.In his speech soon after taking over the mantle, Tanavade, a former MLA, also urged party workers to fully back both the party as well as the government over decisions on key issues. "I am aware that there are two big issues -- Mhadei and mining concerning Goa. We will back the government fully on these issue," Tanavade said. "We will also speak to the central leadership and resolve the issue," Tanavade said. Mining activity in Goa has been banned since 2018, following a Supreme Court ban, which exposed irregularities in the state government's mining lease renewal process. The Goa government, as well as opposition parties have expressed concern over Karnataka's ongoing Kalasa-Banduri water diversion project being built across the Mhadei river, a project which according to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will wreak "ecological devastation" in Goa. The controversial water diversion project was given the go-ahead by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests recently.
--IANS maya/prs