Capt Nitin Dhond explaining the adverse effects of Mhadei Diversion to Minister Satish Jarkiholi Louis Rodrigues
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
Environmentalists from Belagavi region have alerted the forest and district ministers of Karnataka on the perils of Mhadei River Diversion from Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary towards Malaprabha River.
A representation was submitted to the Karnataka Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre and Belagavi District Minister Satish Jarkiholi at Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary by Captain Nitin Dhond and a team representing Paryavarani Foundation, Tivoli village, the people instrumental in the formation of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary.
The memorandum stresses that these forests are responsible for the rains in the catchment area of Malaprabha of Khanapur taluka and the heavy rains created by these forests have made Khanapur the Cherapunji of the South.
“Hence, protection of Bhimgad forests (by not implementing the Kalsa-Bhandura project) is essential to ensure water security of Belagavi, Hubli- Dharwad, Nargund, Navalgund, Ramdurg, Gadag, etc, while the government is bent upon diverting Mhadei water to these talukas,” the environmentalists have stated.
The memorandum further states that Mhadei which originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is a lifeline of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and its periphery in the 1,000 sq. kms of Eco-Sensitive Zones, hence diverting the river will stop entire flow of Bhandura into the sanctuary spelling death for the sanctuary.
The diversion will also have an irreversible and devastating effect on rains in Khanapur, pushing North Karnataka towards rapid desertification, it added.
“We would like to bring to your kind notice that Bhandura, Kalasa and Haltara dams are located in the Eco-sensitive region category I as per Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and identified as the most Eco-sensitive regions by Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports. We earnestly request you to immediately intervene for the protection of our forest and stop the diversion of Mhadei River for saving North Karnataka from desertification and devastation,” the environmentalists have appealed.
“We have extensively carried out fieldwork, data collection, research, and had submitted reports to the Government with repeated follow up for 15 years (1997 to 2011) for declaration of this forest as a Wildlife sanctuary. The objective of forming the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary was to create environmental security and water security for Northern Karnataka region. It is also water security for Hubli Dharwad region as Bhimgad causes heavy rains in Khanapur forests,” Capt Dhond said.
“Nearly 80% of the water which collects in Naveeltirth reservoir on Malaprabha is because of these rains. Damage to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary will reduce the rain in Khanapur which will ultimately result in reduction in water at Naveeltirth Dam,” he ascertained.
Related reports - Ecological Insights of Northern Karnataka River Basins, Central Western Ghats, Karnataka and Goa by Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India & Hydrology and Water Allocation in Malaprabha by Norwegian Institute for Water Research have been also attached with the memorandum.
Col. (Retd) Ravendra Saini, Nyla Coelho, Sujit Mulgund, Rajiv Toppanavar & Geeta Sahu were present during the interaction.
