New twist to Mhadei issue as K’taka changes proposed Kalasa dam site in DPR

PANJIM: The contentious Mhadei water diversion issue has taken a new twist, as in a startling revelation it has come to light that the Karnataka government has changed the proposed dam site in its revised detailed project report (DPR) after realising that it would be difficult for the neighbouring State to obtain environmental clearance (EC) and wildlife clearance since the earlier site was situated within one-km buffer zone.

Karnataka, which has proposed the construction of three dams – Kalasa, Bhandura and Haltara – in the Mhadei river basin to divert water, of which the proposed nalla, was earlier, situated about 317 metres away from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS). It has now been shifted to about three kilometres away and out of the one km buffer zone. The new site is away from the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in Kankumbi in Belagavi district, Karnataka.

After the Central Water Commission (CWC) approved the revised DPR submitted by Karnataka in December last year, the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) in June this year applied to the regional office of Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) at Bengaluru for environmental clearance.

When contacted, Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) secretary and environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said that Karnataka government has changed the proposed Kalasa dam site in its revised DPR after realising that it would be difficult for them to obtain EC from (MoEF&CC) and wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), Delhi, since the earlier site was situated within one-km buffer zone.

He said that for construction of five bhandaras across the Surla nalla, Karnataka has done the marking for felling trees inside the government notified forest.

Karnataka has also stated that it will take up afforestation in Belagavi.

“I visited the new site identified by the Karnataka government for the proposed Kalasa dam and also saw the markings done at the site. I also noticed the numbers marked on the trees to be felled for the proposed project,” Kerkar said.