Environmentalists urge State govt. to reconsider Mahadayi basin projects
They submitted copies of a memoranda to Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre and district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi at Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary recently. They also handed over copies of research papers by IISc and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research and field study reports to the Ministers for reference.
The letter said that going ahead with the Kalasa and Banduri Nala projects will lead to deforestation and negatively impact rainfall in the Khanapur region, that can result in desertification of North Karnataka.
Khanapur, which is part of the Western Ghats, is known as the Cherapunji of the South due to the heavy rain it receives. The evergreen forests of the region are responsible for the rain in the catchment area of the Malaprabha. Protection of Bhimgad forests is essential to ensuring water security of Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Nargund, Navalgund, Ramdurg, Gadag and surrounding areas.
The Mahadayi river which originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is the lifeline of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and its associated reserve and protected forest and eco-sensitive zones of 1,000 sq km.
Diverting the Mahadayi by the Banduri Nala project will stop the entire flow of the Nala into the sanctuary which will spell the death knell of the sanctuary. This diversion will have an irreversible and devastating effect on rain in Khanapur, water in Naviluteertha and push North Karnataka towards rapid desertification.
'We want to bring to your notice that Banduri, Kalasa and Haltara dams for diverting Mahadayi are located in eco-sensitive region category I, as per a report of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. And, they have been previously recognized as the most eco-sensitive regions by the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports,' they said.
'We request you as a well-learned engineer, techno-savvy and genuinely concerned about the protection of our forest to immediately intervene and stop the diversion of the Mahadayi in the long-term interest of saving North Karnataka from desertification and devastation,' they said.
Activist Sujit Mulgund also complained that the State government is trying to divert water from the Hidkal dam to Dharwad industrial area and water from the streams of Khanapur to the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad through the Banduri Nala project. These can dry up Belagavi district, he said.
Members Captain Nitin Dhond, Nyla Coelho, Amrut Charantimath, Geeta Sahu, Neeta Potdar, Rajiv Topannanavar and others were present along with some farmers whose land are likely to be affected by the Mahadayi basin projects.
Foundation's work
The foundation was started by General S.C. Sardeshpande, a war hero and environmental conservationist. The foundation has been involved in fieldwork, data collection and research for over 15 years. It has convinced the Union and State governments to declare Bhimgad as a wildlife sanctuary.
'The objective of forming the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary was to create environmental security and water security for North Karnataka region, Khanapur and Belagavi areas. It also provides water security for Hubballi-Dharwad region because Bhimgad forest is responsible for causing rain in Khanapur and surrounding areas that are the catchment areas for the Mahadayi and the Malaprabha. Over 80% of water that collects in Naviluteertha is because of this rain. Damage to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary will reduce rainfall in Khanapur which will ultimately result in reduction in water at Naviluteertha Dam,' they said.
They have begun a movement, Save Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Save River Malaprabha, Save North Karnataka. The State government selected the foundation for the Parisara Mitra Award in 2011 for advocacy in getting declared Bhimgad as a wildlife sanctuary.
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