MOEF team to visit Mahadayi basin projects soon, say officials

The Hindu

23-05-2025

A team of officials from the Union Ministry for Forests, Environment and Climate Change is likely to visit the proposed project sites in the Mahadayi river basin in Belagavi district and the adjoining Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the next few days.
Official sources said that the team is likely to include forest officials, engineers and hydrologists. Local officials are busy preparing for the visit, like creating multiple copies of documents including the detailed project report of the Bandori Nala Project and the copies of the land acquisition notices issues to farmers.
The proposed visit has received contrasting reactions, however, with farmers and pro-Kannada groups in North Karnataka are welcoming it, but environmental activists in Goa and Karnataka opposing the project.
The Kalasa - Bandori Nala agitation committee chairman Vijay Kulkarni said he was elated to learn of the visit. 'This means that the Union government has made up its mind to approve of the Karnataka government's plans to utilise Mahadayi basin waters for the development of North Karnataka. We knew this would happen, but it took some time,' he said.
The Mahadayi river water diversion project, aimed at supplying water to drought-prone regions of northern Karnataka, has been a long-standing point of contention between Karnataka and Goa. The two lift irrigation projects involve diverting water from the west flowing Kalasa, Bandori, and Haltara streams, that are the tributaries of the Mahadayi into the east flowing Malaprabha.
The Union government has approved the two detailed project reports submitted by the State government. However, the final approvals from the Central Wildlife Board and Ministry of Forests are pending. Karnataka argues the Mahadayi basin projects are drinking water projects and are hence exempted from environment impact assessment and public hearing. However, Goa has argued it is an irrigation project that would have irreversible negative impact on the fragile ecology of the western ghats and of Goa.
It is in this background that the central team's inspection is seen as a crucial step in evaluating compliance with environmental norms before further approvals are granted.
Farmers' associations in North Karnataka and Kannada organisations in Belagavi have expressed optimism about the visit, hoping it will accelerate the project's progress.
'This inspection is a positive step towards resolving the water crisis in our region. The Mahadayi project is essential for irrigation and drinking water needs,' said Uday Desai, a Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader. Pro-Kannada groups have also urged the central team to expedite clearances, emphasising the project's importance for the State's agrarian economy. We have also heard about the visit, but there is no official confirmation as yet. We would happily welcome the team if they are planning to approve the project, said Ashok Chandaragi, convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations.
Environmentalists, however, are worried. Members of the Paryavarni foundation and the `Save Mahadayi and Save Malaprabha' campaign have called for a rally on June 3, opposing the Mahadayi diversion projects. They have urged the State government to reconsider the projects, as they fear that they would lead to desertification of North Karnataka, that depends on the Khanapur forest region for rainfall. The Mahadayi basin projects would not only lead to submergence of over 50 hectares of forests, choke fresh water supply to the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka and the Mhadei sanctuary in Goa, but also lead to reduced rainfall in Belagavi and North Karnataka, said Nitin Dhond, a member of the foundation.
In a related development, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has submitted a report stating that the Mahadayi project will have a 'minimal impact' on Goa's coastal ecology. The study, commissioned by the central government, claims that the water diversion will not significantly alter salinity levels or marine life in Goa's estuaries. However, Goan activists and some political leaders have dismissed these findings, alleging that the study overlooks long-term environmental risks.