PANAJI
Karnataka has once again initiated work to divert the Mhadei river water flow. In Nerse village near Khanapur, the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) has started work to lay pipelines to facilitate the water diversion, without any mandatory permission including that of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL).
Speaking to The Goan, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar informed that KNNL has completed their survey in Nerse and has already installed sign posts at various places in the forested areas on the sides of the Bhandura Nalla, where Karnataka has proposed the work of damming and diversion of water of three rivulets of Singur, Pat and Bhandura into the Malaprabha basin through the diversion channels, canals and pipelines.
“KNNLA has started a unit for creating pipelines to facilitate diversion of water. However, KNNL has not received wildlife clearance or environmental clearance from the Central authorities like NBWL and from Goa Forest department for the project so far,” he pointed out.
Karnataka has so far received only the technical clearance for their Kalsa-Bhandura drinking water project from the Central Water Commission.
Kerkar said that from Nerse, the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary is not even 500 meters and that the area where the proposal for dam has been planned lies within the periphery of ecologically sensitive areas.
“The presence of Tigers, sloth bears and other species of wildlife have been recorded in this area,” he said.
Earlier, in March, Karnataka was involved in felling a large number of trees at the Mhadei site, which was inside the government notified reserved forest, without obtaining any permission.
The neighbouring State was also involved in digging deep channels at Kankumbi to allow water to flow into the conduit built in the area.
Despite several attempts, water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar remained unavailable for the comments; however, sources informed that the department has taken the congnizance and a letter would be sent to Karnataka raising strong objection.
