BELAGAVI
In yet another push to implement the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, the Karnataka government has begun the land acquisition process to lay a pipeline in order to divert water from Bhandura and Singerhol nullahs into River Malaprabha.
Anticipating a green signal from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for its revised DPR, authorities have served notices for land acquisition to about 16 farmers in villages near Khanapur towards this project.
The Karnataka government has also sent a revised DRP to the Centre for approval by changing the previous plan wherein a dam would be raised in about hundred acres of land in the reserved forest area near Nersa.
According to the revised DPR, water would be released through a pipeline and later pumped in River Malaprabha.
Sources said that like the underground tunnel laid to connect Kalsa rivulet to Malaprabha, authorities plan to keep the underground pipeline connecting Bhandura ready so that immediately after getting green signal from MoEF& CC the diversion could be implemented without delay.
A steel pipe manufacturing unit also has been set up near Nersa village that comes in the Bhandura rivulet fringe and production of huge pipes has also commenced.
Along with Kalsa, Bhandura and Singerhol rivulets are the major tributaries contributing round the year flow in the Mhadei water basin. Diverting these rivulets would adversely affect the flow of Mhadei.
LAND ACQUISITION
The land acquisition officers of Malaprabha Scheme No 3 in Bagalkot have issued notices for land acquisition to the farmers of Asoga, Karambal, Rumewadi and other villages in the Khanapur taluka causing stir among the farmers.
The notice has dated February 25 was served to the farmers on April 2 asking the farmers to file objections within 60 days after receiving the notice. In reality, the farmers have less than a month to file their objections.
The Special Deputy Commissioner of the Malaprabha Irrigation Scheme has directed the Irrigation Department to acquire land for the Bhandura project. Accordingly, the Land Acquisition Officer of the Malaprabha Scheme No. 3 in Bagalkot has served the notices to the farmers through the Khanapur Tehsildar's office.
CONCERNS RAISED
One of the farmers told The Goan that though the Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking stay on the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, authorities in Karnataka are forcibly trying to implement the project.
“The notices are being served late to us intentionally wherein little less than a month is left for us to file objections. As the project doesn’t benefit farmers in Khanapur taluka, we have been opposing the same right from its inception,” the farmer said.
Environmentalists have also raised questions about this latest move by authorities. A meeting in this regard is being arranged after which the farmers will be filing their objections.
