Seek green nod afresh for Mhadei project, Karnataka told

KERI: The Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has directed the Karnataka government to submit a fresh proposal for obtaining forest clearance for the proposed Kalasa-Bhandura project.
On May 20, Karnataka's water resources department has written to MoEFCC seeking stage-I approval to the proposal on diversion of 258 ha of forest land for constructing the Kalasa nallah dam near Kankumbi village and diversion of 243 ha of forest land for construction of Bhandura nallah dam near Nerse village in Belagavi district.However, these proposals were returned to Karnataka government in 2003 due to the pending dispute between the states of Karnataka and Goa.
In this regard, in a letter sent on July 3, the deputy inspector general of forests, Brijendra Swaroop stated, “Presently, there is no proposal pertaining to Kalasa-Bhandura project pending for consideration in the ministry. I am directed to request Karnataka government to submit the proposal de novo through online Parivesh portal, in the light of provisions contained in the Forests (Conservation) Second Amendment Rules 2014 and changes in field conditions due to lapse of time period nearing two decades.”
Earlier, MoEFCC in the letter sent to Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd on October 17, 2019 had stated, “The Kalasa-Bhandura Project involves diversion of 499.52 ha of forest land. A part of the project area also falls within the eco-sensitive zone of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary. The streams proposed for diversion within Karnataka in Mahadayi basin shares interstate boundaries with Goa and Maharashtra. Hence, the project was adjudicated by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which in its award of August 14, 2018 directed Karnataka to implement the project after obtaining mandatory clearances as required by the law.”
When TOI contacted advocate general Devidas Pangam, he said, “We will be immediately writing letter to the Mo-EFCC not to grant forest clearance to Karnataka for the Kalasa Bhandura project.”
Last month, Goa government has appealed to the Union government not to consider the new detailed project report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka on the diversion of the Mhadei.
In the letter, Goa has said that Karnataka cannot prepare the DPR without knowing the final judgement of the apex court.
TOI had reported that the Karnataka government had submitted a new DPR to the Union government on the diversion of the Mhadei