Mahadayi Tribunal comes as a rude shock for farmers

The constitution of a tribunal to settle the dispute over Mahadayi’s waters between Karnataka and Goa, where it is called Mandovi) has come as a rude shock to the farmers of North Karnataka who were eagerly waiting for the completion of the Kalasa-Banduri nalla project.

The Centre has announced the constitution of a tribunal following pressure from Goa which had opposed any project seeking to divert the Mahadayi waters.

Successive governments in Karnataka repeatedly claimed that they were committed to the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project and would do everything to clear the hurdles. However, the constitution of the tribunal is being seen as compromising the interests of Karnataka.

Did the inability of the state in convincing the Centre on the need to implement the project lead to the constitution of the tribunal? This is the question being asked in the region.

The project envisages irrigation and supply of drinking water to Savadatti, Ramadurg taluks on Belgaum district, Navalgund in Dharwad district, Ron and Naragund in Gadag district and Badami in Bagalkot district. Mahadayi gets 200 tmc of water and Karnataka proposes to divert 7.6 tmc to Malaprabha by implementing the Kalasa Banduri Nalla project.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai have flayed the Centre’s decision to constitute the tribunal. Bommai said the Centre’s decision indicated that it was a move to appease Goa.

He said Goa has approached the Supreme Court and the apex court had declined to stay the ongoing works in the project area. He pointed out that 75 per cent of the work in the non-forest area within Karnataka has been completed and the state was waiting for environmental clearance for taking up work in the forest area.

Former water resources minister H K Patil, instrumental in initiating the project, said it was unfortunate the state government failed to utilise the situation to impress upon the Centre and Supreme Court the need for the quick implementation of the project.

“At least now, the CM should take an all party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and request to him to allow the work on the Kalasa-Banduri nalla project to continue. Kalasa Banduri project provides for diversion of 7.6 tmc of Mahadayi water whereas Karnataka’s share in the water is 45 tmc. The tribunal while allowing the work on Kalasa-Banduri to continue can set off 7.6 tmc from the share of Karnataka in the final award,” Patil asserted. He felt, mere speeches and politicking would not serve the state’s interest and it would amount to deceiving the farmers.

The Navilu Teertha dam across River Malaprabha built in 1972 has a capacity of 37.5 tmc of water. The water level at the dam has reached the maximum mark 8-10 times during the last 30 years. Silting and upstream projects had reduced the inflow of water into Malaprabha.