BELAGAVI
A broad coalition of environmentalists, civil society groups and local residents from the Belagavi region has warned that ongoing and proposed diversions of the Mhadei river could cause irreversible damage to the Western Ghats and speed up desertification across large parts of north Karnataka.
The Save North Karnataka Citizens Alliance, which includes members from more than 30 organisations, has released a detailed report outlining ecological, legal and socio-economic concerns linked to the Kalsa“Bhandura water diversion projects. The report says that allowing large-scale diversion of the Mhadei could dry up river systems that support agriculture and provide drinking water in Belagavi, Bagalkot, Hubballi-Dharwad and Gadag districts.
Environmentalist and alliance member Capt Nitin Dhond said the report is meant for policy-makers, administrators, elected representatives and the affected communities, especially people in the four districts. The report focuses mainly on the Bhandura Nala Diversion Project, assessing ecological, scientific and technical aspects, and concludes that the project is not viable.
It warns that altering the hydrology of fragile spring-stream systems in the Western Ghats could push north Karnataka and the Malaprabha Basin towards desertification. The Mhadei Diversion Project, originally planned to address water shortages in the Malaprabha river through inter-basin transfer, has remained undecided for nearly 25 years.
The current Detailed Project Report splits the diversion plan into two schemes ” the Kalasa“Haltara Diversion Project (1.72 tmcft) near Chorla and Kankumbi, and the Bhandura Nala Diversion Project (2.18 tmcft) at Nersa. Both originate in sensitive headwaters near the Bhimgad and Mhadei wildlife sanctuaries, areas recognised for high ecological value. The report says disturbing these zones could harm biodiversity, groundwater recharge and rainfall patterns.
While some farmers in the Navilteertha Dam command area see the diversion as a solution to irrigation shortages, the report argues it has been presented as a drinking water scheme mainly to ease regulatory clearance. The report also proposes alternative water-management methods that it says would be more sustainable.
