Mahadayi River springs to Karnataka poll centre stage
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, March 15: For over two decades, politicians in Karnataka has sold the dream to harvest waters of Mahadayi River for the northern parts of the state. In 2017 Assembly elections, the river had hogged the limelight on the campaign trails. Once more, Mahadayi River project has sprung to the limelight following the Supreme Court ruling a few days ago.
The Supreme Court has refused to restrain Karnataka from the implementation of the Mahadayi diversion project based on the Central Water Commission’s latest approval. The SC Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh disposed of a plea by Goa to restrain Karnataka from executing the project.
Goa had challenged the CWC nod to the Karnataka government’s revised detailed project report (DPR) for the Mahadayi diversion scheme.
The ruling BJP is now building the poll plank that it is to the credit of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai that the project stays alive despite spirited campaign by Goa. It may be recalled that Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah during his recent visit to North Karnataka had taken credit for the Mahadayi water diversion project, which had even invited the ire of ministers in the BJP-led Goan government.
Karnataka last year submitted a revised proposal, which sought diversion of Mahadayi River water through Kalasa and Banduri Nala, which was approved by the CWC. This is meant to provide drinking and irrigation water to parched areas of Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad districts and the adjoining areas.
In 2018, the interstate tribunal had granted Karnataka a total of 13.42 thousand million cubic feet of water against a total of their claim of 36.558 thousand million cubic feet, while the two states had challenged the decision.
Maharashtra and Goa’s bordering districts, as well as northern Karnataka, rely on the Mahadayi River basin. As part of the Kalasa-Banduri project, two tributaries of the Mahadayi River, aim is to divert 7.56 TMC of water to the Malaprabha River, for drinking water needs of Dharwad, Belagavi Bagalkot and Gadag in Karnataka.
With water being politically sensitive issue, the BJP is gearing up to go big on the election trail. The BJP has high hopes from North Karnataka, which is essentially the main catchment area of the saffron outfit. With the river water project not nixed by the apex court and the next hearing is only due in July this year by when the Assembly elections would be over, the BJP has planned to go big on the issue.
About The Author
