'Mhadei House panel must take quick decision'

Panaji: Water resource development minister Subhash Shirodkar said on Monday that he would meet speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday to finalise the terms of reference for the House committee meeting on the Mhadei issue.

“I will meet the speaker and legislative secretary and discuss the terms and reference before the committee holds its meeting over the Mhadei issue,” Shirodkar said.

Last week, CM Pramod Sawant, responding to demands by the opposition, announced a 12-member committee headed by the WRD minister. The House committee is likely to start functioning from next week.

Former CM and former speaker Pratapsingh Rane said, “The House committee must take a quick decision. We are waiting for a quick decision from the committee, else they will go ahead with the work. Let them meet and (let’s) see what decision they take.”

Meanwhile, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said “overcome quantity with quality. Goa’s small presence in Parliament can no longer be an excuse to remain meek and subservient when our interests are overlooked and scorned, like on Mhadei. Our MPs must find their voice, intervene firmly, and force opinion in favour of Goa”.

Earlier, former MLAs and legal experts said that the House committee on the Mhadei issue is a mere eyewash and will not serve any purpose.

Former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had said, “Forming a House committee is mere protection to the government and nothing positive will come of it. The government led by the CM should fight it at their own level and get a decision in the favour of the state, instead of making such moves”.