Goa opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane blames secretary on Mhadei dam issue

PANAJI:Steering clear of controversy, former Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane today blamed the bureaucracy for withdrawing the objection raised for construction of dam across Mhadei river by neighbouring Karnataka government.

"Perhaps at the secretary level it was withdrawn, I was not aware about it," said Rane who had drawn flak for allegedly withdrawing the objection, raised by Goa government in 2002 thereby disallowing Karnataka to divert Mhadei river water, during his tenure in 2007.

However, Rane today did not mention any particular official responsible for withdrawing the objection.

Raising the issue on the floor of the House today after Question Hour, he said the withdrawl of objection had nothing to do with the demand to stop the construction of the dam.

Karnataka government had planned seven dams upstream Mhadei river which had been strongly objected by Goa through a letter written in 2002.

Rane said in 2007, a possibility of drawing water for Hubli-Dharwad region from Kali river was being examined, instead of Mhadei river.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar intervened while Rane was making a statement and said the Calling Attention Motion has been moved on the issue tomorrow during which a detailed discussion can be held.

The Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal had earlier imposed an interim ban on the construction of this dam by Karnataka.

Parrikar had yesterday accused the erstwhile Congress-led government headed by Rane of withdrawing the objection which was earlier raised by the state.

Rane had then denied withdrawing the objection during his tenure.

"I have been objecting to the project. It (objection) was not withdrawn by me," he had said.