The Karnataka Governor has issued a direct notification to acquire 9.27 acres of land across four villages in Khanapur taluka for the Bhandura project, part of the larger Kalasa-Banduri water diversion initiative. This project aims to divert water from the Mahadayi (or Mandovi) River basin to supply drinking water to drought-prone districts including Hubballi-Dharwad, Kundgol, and other northern Karnataka areas.
Kalasa-Banduri project has been highly contentious, with environmentalists, religious leaders, and farmers from Karnataka and Goa protesting against it due to fears of ecological harm, particularly to the sensitive Western Ghats and the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary near Khanapur. Critics warn that diverting tributaries like the Bandura will disrupt natural water flow, damage forests, and accelerate desertification in parts of North Karnataka.
The land acquisition has faced objections from local farmers and village panchayats, who have raised concerns about environmental damage, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. However, the government has dismissed these objections, emphasizing the project’s crucial role in addressing acute drinking water shortages in the region. Authorities argue the acquisition is essential to install infrastructure like underground pipelines to facilitate water transfer.
Despite opposition, Karnataka’s government contends the project has strategic importance for regional water security. The notification for land acquisition reflects their urgency to proceed, even as legal and environmental clearance processes remain ongoing.