BELAGAVI
Even as the Karnataka government is desperately trying to get a final nod from the Centre to implement the Mhadei project by diverting its share of Mhadei river water as allocated by the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT), several environmentalists are concerned over the adverse effects the diversion of Mahadayi will have on the vast forest in the Western Ghats.
Noted environmentalist Captain Nitin Dhond from Parisarakkagi Navu (We for Environment) has expressed grave concern in this regard, stating that diversion of Mhadei will turn North Karnataka into a desert.
He was presenting a case study of River Malaprabha at the two-day meeting held recently in Dharwad to discuss life-sustaining role of the Sahyadri range of mountains.
He explained the climate science behind the critical role played by the contiguous forests of Khanapur taluka in bringing rain to the region, water to the Malaprabha, sustaining life and livelihoods of people of North Karnataka and deterring progressive desertification of North Karnataka.
“Khanapur forests, a home to the origin of two major river systems, are facing the threat of destruction due to proposed infra projects, deforestation, change in land use, and unscientific agricultural practices. Any tampering leading to their fragmentation and loss would affect the water security of the region, compromise the climatic and rainfall cycles of the entire North Karnataka region,” Capt Dhond said.
Adv Gouroji highlighted the efforts by Dr Poornima Gouroji of Ramdurg, who since 2003 was engaged in a legal battle to remove river bank encroachments, advocate river protection and rejuvenation, and for the right of river Malaprabha to flow as an unpolluted, unencroached, healthy river rendering its ecological services to habitations residing on its banks.
“Despite High Court orders and direction from the Lokayukta, the river continues to suffer due to high levels of pollution from solid waste dumped into the river, leaching of chemicals from farm input residues, unregulated over extraction of water, discharge of untreated liquid effluents etc,” Adv Gouroji said.
The environmentalists also highlighted ecological integrity of Western Ghats, which they said, is being compromised due to unscientific anthropocentric developmental activities.
This has resulted in continued natural disasters every monsoon as witnessed in the past few years in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, Wayanad being the most recent tragedy.
Environmental concerns, matters of biodiversity, water security, ecological integrity, including the 6th Draft Notification for awarding ESA status to the Western Ghats were discussed during the meeting of environmentalists.
Several scientists, academicians, writers, thinkers, environmentalists, students, and social workers from different parts of Karnataka took part in the meeting.
Belagavi district was represented by members of Paryavarni, Parivartan, Jagruthi Mahileyara Vakkuta, Lt Gen Sardeshpande Memorial Sahyadri Conservation Interpretation Centre, GRAKOOS, and members of Parisarakkaagi Naavu Belagavi District Chapter.
