If the political sabre-rattling that has already begun over the Kalasa- Banduri Nala is any indication, then the controversial project could well set the agenda for the next assembly election in the entire north Karnataka region.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s faux pas in declaring during the Goa assembly election that “We will not allow the diversion of the Mahadayi river under any circumstances,” is being fully exploited by the BJP, projecting the Congress and the Centre as being inimical to the interests of the people of Karnataka.
As the Kalasa- Banduri Nala project -- the work on which has been started by the BJP-JD(S) government despite protest from Goa --is a drinking water scheme meant to quench the thirst of around 25 lakh people in Hubli-Dharwad and the sorrounding towns and villages of Belgaum, Gadag, Haveri and Bagalkot districts, the BJP is out to fully exploit the sentiments of the people.
The State BJP leaders have planned a massive procession and a rally in Hubli on June 18 to protest against the Centre’s “step-motherly attitude” towards Karnataka, allegedly abetted by the Congress president.

Public emotions
Sonia Gandhi may not have secured even half a per cent of votes for her party in Goa through her ill-conceived declaration, but Congress stands to lose a substantial number of seats in north Karnataka, if BJP manages to whip up public emotions on the issue.
A jumbo delegation of worried Congress leaders called on Sonia on Thursday, hoping to get a retraction from her. But all that they managed was an assurance that she “would look into how the remarks were included in her speech.” The BJP is determined to embarrass Congress over the implementation of the project. Disregarding the direction given by the Water Resources ministry to keep the project in abeyance -- after giving an “in principle” approval in April 2002 -- the State government has gone ahead with the Kalasa-Banduri channel work. The first phase of the Rs 48 crore project (total cost around Rs 200 crore), which involves building a 5 km long inter-linking channel has been taken up at Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk of Belgaum district.
A diversion dam will be built across Kalasa to divert 3.56 TMCft of water through an artificial tunnel to the Malaprabha reservoir, which is nearby. Similarly, another diversion dam is proposed at Banduri nala, on the eastern side of the river. “We have taken up the works in our territory where no forest area is disturbed,” says T D Doddaiah, superintending engineer.
“About 500 hectares of forests will get submerged when the two dams are built, for which we have sought the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,” adds S S Khanagavi, another superintending engineer.

River dispute
 The Mahadayi, known as Mandovi in Goa, is a west flowing river which takes birth in the western ghats. As per the Central Water Commission’s study report, the river along with its tributories, has an yield of about 220 TMCft, including a catchment of 45 TMCft in Karnataka. The State plans to divert 7.56 TMCft from its Mahadayi basin to the Malaprabha reservoir to meet the drinking water requirements.
Considering that the national water policy accords highest priority to drinking water and this project proposed to divert only monsoon flows to meet the drinking water needs from Karnataka’s own share, it was supposed to have a smooth sailing.
The ministry’s approval was also subject to the project designs and sites being open to inspection by officials of Central Water Commission and engineers of Goa and Maharashtra to ensure that no more than stipulated water was being diverted.
After such stringent norms, there should not have been any objections from any quarters, but the Goa government prevailed upon the then NDA government to hold back Karnataka. Its objection was that the project would have adverse effect on the river flow into Goa and the ecology. Goa also expressed the fear that salinity will increase in its water and fishing will be affected.

Debunked
D Satya Murthy, managing director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, points out that an environmental impact report submitted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has debunked each one of Goa’s apprehensions. 
Luckily for Karnataka, the SC which is hearing a petition filed by the Goa government, has refused to give a stay on the project. The next hearing is slated for July 9 and Karnataka will be watching with great interest the affadavit the Centre will file before the court.