Belgaum: All political leaders, cutting across party lines, from Beglaum, Dharwad, Gadag and Bagalkot joined hands to make common cause for early implementation of the Kalsa-Bhanduri Nala diversion schemes to mitigate drinking water requirements of the region. But none of the major parties had bothered to look into the problems faced by people living on the banks of the Malaprabha River.

The Malaprabha Nadi Parisara Saumrakshana Vedike, Belgaum, had been trying to draw the attention of successive governments and even petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for denial of "natural rights" of the villagers living on the banks of the river — from Malaprabha dam in Navilteertha of Saundatti taluk to Kudala Sangam down stream.

According to the vedike, while the Government wanted to divert water from Kalasa-Bhanduri Nalas (tributaries of the Mahadayi river, which is known as Mandovi in Goa) into the Malaprabha river to provide drinking water to the residents of Hubli-Dharwad, parts of Gadag, Bagalkot and Belgaum, it had not bothered to respond to the cries of the villagers living along the banks of the Malapraba. Excessive release of toxic into the river from industries had been causing health problems to the villagers. The pollution was directly affecting marine life. The vedike said although the Government was now according priority to the people of Hubli-Dharwad, Navalgund and Nargund, it was not looking at the "denial of natural rights" of the villagers living on the banks of the river.

The vedike had been demanding laying of pipelines to supply clean drinking water to all villages along the river, from Naviluteertha to Kudalsangam, construction of barrages at every 500 metres to cause recharge of water table, check dams in hilly terrains, installation of windmills at elevated points to generate power to supply water to lift irrigation schemes and strict measures to prevent pollution.

The vedike had stressed on removal of all encroachment on riverbanks, said the vedike convener Balachandra Jabshetti.

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