PANAJI: Karnataka is set to approach the Supreme Court seeking legal clarification after the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) returned the State's proposal seeking wildlife clearance for the Kalasa-Bhanduri drinking water project.
In a letter, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav informed Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that the proposal had been returned as the matter is currently sub judice before the Supreme Court.
Yadav was responding to Shivakumar's letter dated December 23, 2025, seeking wildlife clearance for the project proposed near Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district.
According to the communication, the Karnataka government had filed an interlocutory application before the Supreme Court in October 2023 challenging the March 29, 2023, order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa.
As the matter is pending before the apex court and involves issues requiring adjudication between Goa and Karnataka, the Centre has decided not to process the wildlife clearance proposal at this stage. Yadav clarified that the proposal would be reconsidered only after the Supreme Court issues directions in the matter.
Commenting on the development, senior Supreme Court advocate Mohan Katarki, who represents Karnataka in the case, said, "It is surprising that the Union Government is taking cognisance of the extra-territorial order issued by Goa, which is plainly contrary to its own published award of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. We will move the Supreme Court for clarification soon."
The Kalasa-Bhanduri project, which aims to divert water to the Malaprabha basin to meet the drinking water needs of Hubballi-Dharwad, Gadag and Belagavi, will remain on hold until the Supreme Court issues further directions.
