Goa agrees for Madei diversion

Goa has agreed to Maharashtra's request to divert the Madei river water passing throught its territory in the Sindhudurg district for construction of a dam at Virdi.

Madei river, which originates in Karnataka, passes through Maharashtra before reaching Goa where it is called river Mandovi.

The state government has ensured that Goa would be benefited by the dam. The dam has a capacity of 15.36 million cubic litre per day, official sources said.

On Goa's request, Maharashtra will increase the height of the dam so that Goa gets additional water during summers. Goa will also get water for Anjunem dam to meet its drinking water requirement, officials said.

This was decided at a high-level meeting held in Maharashtra, which was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and his Maharashtra counterpart Vilasrao Desmukh.

Officials said the diversion of water for Maharashtra's irrigation requirement would restricted to the basin.