Speakers call on North K’taka, Goa to unite against water diversion plans
BELAGAVI
Stepping up their agitation against the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, activists, farmers and religious heads on Wednesday opposed Karnataka’s proposed land acquisition for the Bhandura water diversion to lay an underground pipeline in the ecologically sensitive Mhadei basin.
They also resolved to oppose the construction of dams in the eco-sensitive region and the diversion of water from Mhadei.
At a public meeting in Khanapur under the campaign of ‘Save Mhadei, Save Malaprabha, Save Khanapur Taluka, Save Rains’, speakers condemned the project as a major threat to water security, forests, and livelihoods in Goa, Belagavi, and North Karnataka.
Farming leaders and activists passionately urged people from North Karnataka and Goa to come together to see that the project is not implemented.
Karnataka authorities were accused of reviving a shelved plan under the guise of the Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project and trying to implement the same without getting necessary clearances and permissions.
In his speech, environmental activist Dilip Kamat warned that diverting Mhadei water would be disastrous not only for Khanapur and Goa but also for entire North Karnataka region. “Diversion of Kalsa-Bhandura and other rivulets to Malaprabha River would lead to desertification in northern Karnataka while submerging forests and villages in the Western Ghats,” said Kamat.
“Deforestation in this region especially the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad periphery would adversely affect rains depleting the water sources of Malaprabha and Mhadei and their tributaries ending up in turning the whole region dry.”
“Let us come together to save Mhadei and Malaprabha. Let us join hands to protect these rivers and the mountains in the Khanapur and Goa regions,” Kamat added.
Describing the proposed diversion as unscientific, noted activist Capt Nitin Dhond also criticised those who termed Mhadei water is being wasted into the sea.
Citing research by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research and IISc and other institutes, he said North Karnataka was slowly becoming a desert due to deforestation and other measures.
He also warned against the construction of dams on Kalsa, Bhandura and Haltar.
“These dams will reverse Mhadei’s flow, devastating Bhimgad and Mhadei wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka and Goa and destroying the evergreen and highly eco-sensitive Western Ghats,” Capt Dhond said.
Kallappa Ghadi, a farmer who has received a land acquisition notice, said several gram panchayats, including Karambol, have decided to pass a resolution against the land acquisition.
He appealed to all families likely to lose their land to approach their elected representatives to raise their voice against the project.
Seers and Swamis from various Mutts among others voiced their strong opposition to the project and extended their support to the agitation against the movement.
The Khanapur Tehshildar later accepted a memorandum submitted by the activists and assured to forward it to the Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi and other authorities.
Incidentally, many agitators voiced their concern about the lacklustre attitude by Goan authorities and activists towards this issue.
