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Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
State takes decisive step towards Mahadayi project
Hubballi: In a major development that signals Karnataka's determination to implement the Mahadayi river project despite opposition, the state government has issued a land acquisition notification. The move comes even as Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently asserted that his government would not allow the project to proceed. With this notification, the state has conveyed a strong counter to Goa, making it clear that the project cannot be stalled indefinitely. The notification, issued on July 23 by the under-secretary of the Revenue Department, covers land in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district. Specifically, acquisition has been initiated for 9 acres and 27 guntas in Asoga, Karambal, Shedagali, and Rumewadi villages to facilitate project works. Only clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Wildlife Board remain pending. Once granted, the project will receive the much-awaited green signal. The Mahadayi project has been a long-standing demand of people in Kittur Karnataka, who have fought for decades to secure drinking water and irrigation facilities for 13 towns and hundreds of villages, including Hubballi-Dharwad. In 2010, the Union government constituted the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which in 2018 allocated 13.42 TMC of water to Karnataka. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) also received approval, raising hopes among residents. However, due to persistent objections from Goa and lack of environmental clearance, implementation has been has consistently lobbied against the project, pressing the Centre not to issue final approvals. CM Sawant's statement in the Goa Assembly last month further angered people in north Karnataka, who see the project as critical to their survival. By issuing the acquisition notification, the Siddaramaiah-led government has attempted to demonstrate political will. Congress leaders have urged Union ministers, particularly Pralhad Joshi, to expedite the pending clearances. 'The state has completed its responsibility. Now the Centre must act swiftly to ensure approval,' leaders asserted. Responding to the development, Union Minister Joshi maintained that sincere efforts are underway to secure necessary permissions. With land acquisition in motion, the spotlight now shifts to the Centre. Observers say only when environmental and wildlife clearances are granted will the Mahadayi project shed its prolonged uncertainty and bring long-awaited relief to Kittur Karnataka.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Sand mining to resume in Kerala rivers after long gap of nine years
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: River sand mining is set to resume in Kerala after a gap of nine years. The revenue department recently issued an order on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for mining activities. The SOP is the first step in a series of procedures involving different government departments. The SOP is based on the directives issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal. Under this, District Survey Reports are to be prepared for districts where mining is planned. It should be prepared by an agency approved by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training. The state has so far prepared DSRs for 11 districts with the support of NABET-approved CSIR-NIIST. Of them, four were approved by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the remaining are under different stages of review. The report has information on the mining potential of rivers in the districts and their environmental impact. The primary data would be the sand auditing report for each district prepared earlier under government supervision. So far, audits have been conducted for 32 of the 44 rivers. Of them, 17 rivers in 10 districts were recommended for restricted mining activities. They are Mogral, Uppala, Shiriya,Chandragiri, Valapattanam, Perumba, Sreekandapuram, Mahe, Kadalundi, Chaliyar, Bharathappuzha, Muvattupuzha, Periyar, Manimala, Pampa, Achankovil and Kulathupuzha. Rules amendment After the SOP, the state mining and geology department should give a letter of intent. Since existing mines and mineral rules do not provide for an LoI, an amendment should be brought to it. Following this, the RDO of a district can apply for environmental clearance. Based on the clearance, the mining and geology department will issue permits for mining from each river. As per the present plan, mining activities would be under the supervision of the Kadavu committee formed for specific banks of a river. The committee to be constituted by the district collector will have the grama panchayat president or the municipal chairperson as its ex-officio president and LSGI secretary as ex-officio secretary.
