BELAGAVI
Members of Paryavarani organisation a NGO striving for the conservation of environment in Western Ghats, particularly the Bhimgarh and Mhadei Wildlife sanctuaries have started a campaign to create awareness of diversion of Mhadei in Karnataka.
This will have an adverse impact on the environment damaging the thick bio diverse forests in the region leading to drastic reduction in rainfall in Belagavi district and cause rapid desertification of North Karnataka according to the greens.
Members of various green organisations like Paryavarani, Parivarthan, Parisarkkagi Naavu (We for Environment) and other organisations had gathered at the Kannada Sahitya Bhavan to discuss about the devastating effects of Kalsa-Bhandura and Mhadei water diversion project.
The activists have appealed to authorities in the riparian States not to politicise the Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion issue and initiate immediate measures to conserve the ecology in the region for the next generations.
Speaking to media Capt Nitin Dhond said that Kalsa Bhandura dams will reverse the Mhadei river water away from Bhimgad and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuaries adversely affecting about 500 sq km of biodiverse forests in the region. This will directly damage the thick forest of Khanapur leading them to submerge under water. Moreover cutting of over 2 lakh trees will lead to forest fragmentation.
“Damage of forests responsible for 40 per cent rains in Khanapur taluka which contributes to 85 % of water in Renukasagar dam on River Malaprabha will lead to reduction of rain. There will be drastic reduction in rains in the North Karnataka region leading to its desertification,” Capt Dhond said. He also emphasised that efforts to create awareness about the devastating effects of Kalsa Bhandura water diversion project will continue unabatedly.
Refuting Karnataka’s claim that Mhadei water is getting wasted into sea noted green activist and water conservationist Dilip Kamat said that the river has to flow to the sea to complete the hydro cycle of monsoon.
Moreover west flowing rivers like Mhadei are responsible for global cooling, feeding Co2 feeding algae and other ecological benefits.
The organisations have also suggested a better alternative of substitutes like diverting Bennihalla River basin in Dharwad district that runs parallel to Malaprabha. “Bennihalla River is the closest and most economical and eco friendly source of water for North Karnataka region. This is the most potential water source of meeting the present and future water needs of the region. This project will not cause any damage to the Western Ghat ecology, Capt Nitin Dhond said.
Dilip Kamat, Dr Shivaji Kaganikar, Sharada Gopal, Geeta Sahu, Nyla Coelho representing various green organisations were present.
