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(THE GIST OF PIB) Kalasa-Banduri Nala project

(January-2023)

Karnataka’s decision to go ahead with a water diversion project on river Mahadayi has escalated its long-standing dispute on the issue with neighboring Goa.

Karnataka Chief Minister informed that the government had received clearance from the Centre for two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala on the Mahadayi.
Goa immediately raised a red flag, announcing that it would take an all-party delegation to Prime Minister and meet other Union ministers to block the project.
Karnataka has dug in its heels, with Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol Monday announcing that tenders for the project would be floated soon and work begin within a month.

The Kalasa Banduri Nala project aims to divert water from Mahadayi to satisfy the drinking water needs of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts.
Though the project was first proposed in the early 1980s, it has remained on paper owing to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

A Tribunal was set up by the UPA government in November 2010.
The Tribunal in 2018 awarded 13.42 TMC water from Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra and 24 TMC to Goa.
In Karnataka’s share, 5.5 TMC was to meet drinking water needs and 8.02 TMC was for hydro-electricity generation.
Of the 5.5 TMC, 3.8 TMC was to be diverted to Malaprabha basin through Kalasa and Banduri Nalas (canals).
This was notified by the Central government in February 2020.