KALASA-BHANDURI PROJECT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has deferred the decision on diverting forest land from the Kali and Sahyadri tiger reserves for the construction of a part of the Karnataka government's Kalasa Nala water diversion scheme.

Kalasa-Bhanduri Project

• About: The project entails building dams and a canal system to divert water from the Mahadayi River in Goa to the Malaprabha River basin in Karnataka.
• Project Goals: The primary objective is to fulfill the drinking water requirements of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag districts in Karnataka.
• Project History: Originally proposed in the early 1980s, the project has faced delays due to disputes among Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• Barrages and Diversion: The plan involves constructing barrages on Kalasa and Bhanduri streams, diverting water towards the drought-prone districts of Karnataka.

Mahadayi River 

• Origin and Flow: Rising in Karnataka's Belagavi district, the river travels 35 km in Karnataka and 82 km in Goa, ultimately reaching the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
• Alias in Goa: Known as Mandovi in Goa, the Mahadayi is a rain-fed river shared by Karnataka and Goa for their water needs.
• Ecological Significance: The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, situated on Chorao Island in the Mandovi River, highlights the ecological importance of the region.
• Major Tributaries: The river is fed by several tributaries, including Kalasa Nala, Bhanduri Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, and Andher Nala.