Kalasa-Banduri: DK Shivakumar urges Centre to speed up environmental nod to project
by Bangalore Mirror · Bangalore MirrorKarnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday called upon Union Minister for Environment and Forest, Bhupender Yadav, to expedite environmental clearance for the Kalasa-Banduri irrigation project in Karnataka.
Shivakumar submitted an appeal to the minister to expedite the forest and wildlife clearance for the Kalasa Nala Diversion Scheme and forest clearance for the Banduri Nala Diversion Scheme.
Kalasa-Banduri Project is a dam project that aims to divert water from the Mahadayi River to the Mala-prabha River basin in Karnataka.
The project’s goal is to provide drinking water to drought-hit districts in northern Karnataka, including Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag.
The project involves building barrages on the Kalasa and Banduri streams, which are tributaries of the Mahadayi River.
“Kalasa-Banduri is a critical project for the people of Karnataka. Despite adherence to all statutory and procedural requirements, Karnataka’s proposal continues to face delays. It is imperative to resolve this at the earliest to avoid further impact on this vital project,” Shivakumar said.
He added: “The 80th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife had deferred, in a meeting held in October 2024, Karnataka’s proposal to use 10.88 hectares of forest land for the Kalasa project in Western Ghats.
The Board had directed Karnataka to submit a written representation addressing legal issues raised in the meeting.”
He said that the National Board for Wildlife had rejected Karnataka’s proposal citing legal disputes between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra related to Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s award, which was pending before the Supreme Court.
He further added that however, Karnataka had contested the decision of the National Board for Wildlife stating that the Supreme Court does not restrain Karnataka from proceeding with the project.