BELAGAVI
Questioning the very purpose of the Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, social activist from Belagavi and senior AAP leader Rajkumar Topannavar has accused Karnataka of wasting 70 TMC in the Upper Krishna Project and said the same water could be supplied to Gadag, Bagalkot and Dharwad.
He has also claimed that the Mhadei diversion is of no use to Belagavi and Khanapur talukas.
Stating that citizens and associations in Belagavi and Khanapur have had a meeting to protect Mhadei Bhimgad area and are planning a citizens movement to Save Belagavi, Topannavar has appealed to the people of Goa to join hands in the movement.
Speaking to The Goan, Topannavar said the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal (KWDT) has already allotted 177 TMC of water to Karnataka in the Upper Krishna Project II, which covers Bagalkote, Dharwad, Gadag and Vijaypura area.
“The height of the Almatti dam gates has to be increased from 519 to 524 metres so that Karnataka can utilise its share completely. Due to the present height of dam gate, only 120 TMC is being utilised and more than 50 TMC goes wasted and flows to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” said Topannavar.
“The people of Hubli-Dharwad and Gadag have been demanding for 4 TMC water from Mhadei, their demand from water can easily be sufficed from the present allotment under the UKP II, but the BJP is in no mood to invest in increasing the height of the dam wall and utilise the 70 TMC for the benefit of the people of Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkote and Vijaypura. They are rather busy playing with the sentiments of the people of North Karnataka and Goa.”
“BJP should stop playing politics on this issue and utilise what is already allotted in UKP II. The BJP governments in Karnataka and Goa are only taking people of both States for a ride and they have been using the Mhadei issue as per their convenience before either of the states go to polls.”
Topannavar claimed that Mhadei, Malaprabha, Kali and Tillari river basin forests in the Western Ghats between Goa and Karnataka have already seen enough ecological damage.
“Mhadei and Bhimgad are very eco-sensitive zones and any damage to it will also have repercussions to the climate, rainfall and livelihoods of Belagavi and Khanapur talukas. Goa will definitely have a setback.”
“It is unfortunate to know that the people of Belagavi and Khanapur talukas are not aware of the impact it will have on their lives and their immediate environment. I don’t oppose drinking water projects, irrigation and infrastructure projects but I strongly believe in a sustainable development model and it is important to save our environment and wildlife for future generations,” said Topannavar.
Topannavar alleged that the sugar lobby is the real culprit behind these river diversion projects.
“Sugar cultivation has wide impacts on North Karnataka's environment, rural economy, politics, lifestyle & culture,” he said.
