Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

MPs told to pressure Centre on Kalasa-Banduri project

Staff Correspondent

Basavaraj Bommai

HUBLI: Basavaraj Bommai, MLC, has appealed to all Union Ministers, and MPs belonging to Karnataka to prevail upon the Union Government to submit its second report on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project immediately to the Supreme Court.

In a letter, copies of which was released to media, Mr. Bommai has urged them to bring to the notice of the Government certain issues pertaining to the project, and prevail upon it to accommodate the same in its second report to be submitted before the Supreme Court.

The project was mainly aimed at providing drinking water to villages of Dharwad, Belgaum, Gadag and Bagalkot districts for which the Government gave an in-principle approval in April 2002. However, the Union Water Resources Ministry had kept the project in abeyance following opposition from Goa Government for the past four years, he said.

Though technical reports had said that there would be no adverse impact on the environment, the Government had kept the project in abeyance based on a letter of opposition from the Goa Chief Minister, he added.

The Supreme Court of India had not given a stay on the project.

After submitting its first report on the project four years ago, the Centre had raised the issue of constituting a tribunal for the purpose. However, it had not replied to the issues raised by Karnataka Government. Therefore, the second report assumes significance, Mr. Bommai said.

According to the formula worked out by the Central Water Commission the share of Karnataka was 45 tmcft. However, the State had planned to utilise 7.6 tmcft of water through the project. When working out the final water sharing formula for the States in Mahadayi river basin, this 7.6 tmcft could be taken into account under Karnataka's share, Mr. Bommai said.

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