PANAJI
In another setback to Karnataka’s Mhadei river diversion project, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has once again removed the State government’s proposal seeking permission to divert 71 acres of forest land for the Bandura Nala project from it project consideration list, reportedly after Karnataka failed to furnish the clarifications sought by the Centre.
Sources informed that the proposal was submitted by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) to the Regional Empowered Committee of the Ministry seeking permission to use 71 acres of forest land in Nerase, Manturga and Bacholi villages of Khanapur taluka in Belagavi district for constructing a pipeline, pump house and power transmission infrastructure under the Bandura Nala diversion project. However, the same was removed from the list for the meeting scheduled last month.
The Union Ministry had in January, clarified that the forest clearance proposal could be considered only after the cases pending before the Supreme Court in connection with the Mhadei dispute were resolved. It had even directed the Karnataka government to provide the present status of various special leave petitions and interlocutory applications filed before the Supreme Court pertaining to the Mhadei river diversion project.
REC had even raised serious ecological red flags, warning that the project would “negatively impact” the riverine ecology of the Mhadei river and lead to “reduced water flows” into the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Accordingly, on July 13, in a communication to KNNL, the Ministry had sought an explanation from the Karnataka government regarding the pending legal proceedings.
Following the Centre's communication, the Forest Department's nodal officer, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, had directed the Deputy Conservator of Forests in Belagavi on August 6 to obtain the required clarification from the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam.
However, as the State government failed to submit the required response to the ministry, the proposal was subsequently removed from the list.
This is the second time the proposal has been dropped from the ministry's list. It was earlier removed in April this year over the non-submission of required information. Karnataka had subsequently resubmitted the proposal after furnishing its response in May.
