Revised Bedti-Varada project will destroy 1k acre forest: Activists

Bengaluru: Activists from Uttara Kannada district have opposed the recent attempts to revive the old proposal to join Bedti and Varada rivers, noting that over 1,000 acre of pristine forests will be destroyed in an effort to divert a stressed river.

K Venkatesh, Genapati K and Anant Hegde Ashisar of the Vruksha Laksha Andolana Karnataka said the plan to divert water from Yellapur and Sirsi through canals to provide water to the Haveri farmers was misplaced.

“Over the last 25 years, the project has been opposed by the public three times and subsequently shelved. Now, the National Watershed Development Agency is about to start working on a new detailed project report,” a statement said.

The Andolana said about 1.5 lakh farmers in Sirsi, Yellapur and Ankola taluks were dependent on the Bedti river. Besides being lifeline of fishermen, the river is the source of drinking water for 190 villages and also being tapped to provide water to the naval base in Karwar.

“Building the infrastructure for the Bedti-Varada project, including canals, road and electricity, will end up destroying 1,000 acres of pristine forests and leave a negative impact on the ecosystem,” the Andolana said, urging the government to drop the project.