"MHADEI PAPERS" : How and Why, Goa lost it's case? - Vol 2
"The Tribunal" was taken by Parrikar government to Morlem and Ganjim, to contest that diversion of Mhadei would affect 282 families; and the data of CWC was not consistent, without any proof.
The Hon'ble MWDT (Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal) on their second day of visit of the Mhadei river basin, across all 3 states, visited Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme Project, in Goa.
The officials of Government Of Goa, presented to "the Tribunal" that Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme provides drinking water and supply of irrigation water for 282 Hectares of land.
Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme was primarily undertaken for rehabilitation of 282 displaced families from the Anjunem Dam project.
"The Tribunal" did not pose any questions to officials of Government Of Goa; most probably because they were totally perplexed at why this site was chosen, for them; and what value did it held, with respect to the current dispute.
The data made available by the State Government of Mr.Manohar Parrikar implies that 282 families were displaced by the Anjunem Dam project, they were rehabilitated, and were awarded 1 Hectare of land each. Now the question arised, as in what they would with the land compensation, so Government Of Goa, initiated the "Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme" for them, so that irrigation water can be supplied and they can continue with their livelihood.
It makes no sense for any reader, why "Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme" was chosen for the "The Tribunal" visit?
Did the Manohar Parrikar Government wanted to impress on the hon'ble tribunal that, diversion of Mhadei water would lead to likely hardship to these 282 displaced families?
Is that all?
In today's context, of the huge turmoil "the issue" is creating in the State Of Goa, with people waiting to line up the streets, this choice would seem hilarious to any concerned person.
While making a query to a "search engine" : "Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme", the query returned a NULL.
Morlem (taluka Sattari)lies in the assembly constituency of former Chief Minister, Mr.Pratap Singh Rane; and the Parliamentary constituency of incumbent MP, Mr.Shripad Naik.
Why this site was chosen for Hon'ble MWDT, can be made out from the above fact.
On 16th Of December 2013, Hon'ble MWDT visited CWC (Central Water Commission) Hydrological Station at Ganjim.
CWC maintains another hydrological station at Collem, in Goa.
The whole contention of State Of Goa, towards this site visit to "The Tribunal" was to allege that observations and hydrological data recorded by CWC at this site cannot be relied upon.
This when, Superintending Engineer of CWC contended that, procedures mentioned in BIS (Bureau Of Indian Standards) 1192 is followed at the hydrological station, and more than 42 Years of water-level and discharge data is available at the Ganjim station of river Mhadei (Mandovi).
While State Government Of Goa, contested the reliability of CWC Station Ganjim data; the State Government did not make consistency check itself, to bolster their claim.
And that too, when it had means to do so.
There were two nearby discharge observation sites of Govt. of Goa, one at Khadikei on river Mhadei in the upstream of Ganjim and other at Paikul on Ragda, a tributary of river Mhadei.
In addition to above, Govt. of Goa had also established a few more hydrological observation stations under the ongoing Work Bank assisted Hydrology Project.
Both the visits of "The Tribunal" to Morlem Lift Irrigation Scheme and CWC Hydrological Station Ganjim were planned by Parrikar Government on whims, lacking any merit at all.
Both Ganjim and Collem Hydrological Observation Station (HO) started operation in 1979, and are on river Mandovi/Mhadei. Across India, Central Water Commission has 878 Hydrological Stations, for observation, flood forecasting and investigation.
NOTE: You can read here : Mhadei Papers Vol 1