Karnataka’s dams will affect Goa’s ecology: Goa’s fragile ecology

KERI: If fails to stop Karnataka, their dams will have devastating effects on Goa’s fragile ecology, said GFP chief Vijay Sardesai after visiting the proposed dam sites of Karnataka at Kalasa and Haltara in Belagavi district, along with party members. He said they were shocked at the close proximity of the work to Goa’s Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.“The Karnataka government has already completed the survey and soil testing to undertake the Kalasa project. Diversion of the Kalasa river will drastically reduce the flow of the Nanoda nullah, whereas diversion of the Haltara nullah will create acute paucity of drinking water to Goa’s water treatment plants at Padoshe and Sanquelim,” Sardesai said. The work will also affect forest, ecology and wildlife of Goa to a great extent, he added.After TOI had published a report about Karnataka having completed the survey and soil testing at the dam sites, GFP had written to Goa’s chief secretary, asking that urgent steps be taken to restrain Karnataka from carrying out the work. GFP spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said that Goa government has miserably failed in restraining Karnataka from undertaking the work of the Kalasa project.