Mahadayi project: Union environment ministry writes to Goa

The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change ministry has written to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stating it would form a committee to look into the decision to exclude Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri project on Mahadayi river from the need for environmental clearance.

The letter, dated November 18, was in response to a memorandum submitted on November 4 by an all party Goa delegation led by Sawant, officials said here on Tuesday.

Goa recently protested over a reported Central nod to Karnataka to go ahead with the Kalasa Banduri project which aims at providing drinking water to three north Karnataka districts by diverting Mahadayi water.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar's letter said that "regarding the Kalasa Banduri project, it is informed through your memorandum that the proposal submitted to the ministry is more than a drinking water project and thus requires to be reviewed in detail by the ministry".

"In this connection, a committee is being constituted to look into the issues raised in detail," the letter added.

Speaking on the letter, Sawant said, "The minister has taken due cognisance of the representation submitted by our all party delegation and has constituted a committee to examine the issue."