BJP workers marched towards Goa International Airport at Dabolim on Thursday, October 9, protesting the proposed diversion of the Mhadei river ahead of Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar’s arrival in Goa. The protesters said the diversion could affect the state’s water security, ecosystems and agricultural activity.
The march took place before Shivakumar was scheduled to attend the Goy Rakhonn Yatra at Birla, Zuarinagar. Police intervened to prevent the protesters from coming in the way of the Karnataka chief minister’s convoy, according to the Times of India report.
Goa superintendent of police Gurudas Kadam directed the police to stop the protesters from approaching the route of the convoy. The report did not state whether the march caused disruption to airport operations or traffic movement in the area.
Mayur Dessai, one of the protesters, said the demonstration was peaceful and intended to communicate the potential consequences of Mhadei diversion to the Karnataka chief minister. “Ours was a peaceful protest to show the Karnataka CM that the diversion of Mhadei will affect Goa’s water security, local ecosystems, and regional agriculture activities,” Dessai said.
Dessai also said the protesters did not want to disrupt Shivakumar’s convoy. He said their objective was to highlight the dependence of local communities on the Mhadei river and urge Karnataka to stop diverting its waters.
The Mhadei issue has become a recurring inter-state water dispute involving Goa and Karnataka. The latest protest placed the issue at the intersection of river management, public security and political mobilisation, with the demonstration held at a major transport gateway ahead of a high-profile political visit.
For Goa, the claims raised by the protesters concern more than the movement of water between states. They relate to the availability of water for communities, the health of river-linked ecosystems and the role of the Mhadei basin in supporting agricultural activity. The report, however, did not provide details of any new diversion order, construction activity, water volumes or implementation timeline.
The immediate administrative response focused on maintaining the movement of the Karnataka chief minister’s convoy. Police were instructed to prevent the protesters from obstructing the route, while the protesters maintained that their action was peaceful and aimed at conveying their concerns.
The report also did not record a response from the Karnataka government, the Goa government or Shivakumar regarding the protesters’ demands. It did not specify whether any discussions were held between the protesters and officials after the march. Further official clarification would be required on the status of the proposed diversion and the next steps in the inter-state dispute.
