Karnataka is still reeling from the protests, rasta roko, bandhs, burning effigies, etc., resulting from the anger over the Interim Verdict of Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal[i] (MWDT) of the 27.07.16 which did not allow Karnataka’s Appeal to temporarily lift 7 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) water from Mahadayi Basin into Malaprabha Basin (a sub basin of Krishna basin). Twin cities of Hubali and Dharwad, likely beneficiaries from the diversion, are centers of agitation. Schools and colleges were closed, government offices and buses were burnt, major roads were blocked by protesters. Pro-Karnataka Organizations and even Film stars have joined this protest. Karnataka Home Minister has called on the Prime Minister to look into the decision. Goa, on the other hand, is quietly celebrating this one positive step[ii]. I was reminded of Rajendra Singh’s uncritical support to the project and also what Dr. T V Ramchandra from IISC, Bangalore said about this, “Do the film stars know the details of the issue or even where their water comes from? The day we push Pudharis away, solutions to our water woes will be easy and closer to home.”
I have returned from Mhadei/Mandovi Basin recently, tracing her footsteps near her origin to the sea and it is difficult to conceive that this veritable treasure trove of serenity and beauty is today a bone of contention, leading to unrest and violence.
Protest in Bangalore against MWDT Interim Order Photo from: Indian Express
It also cannot be missed that unlike Goa, the powerful Karnataka had hired a battery of celebrity lawyers to contest its case in front of the tribunal. As a conservationist friend from Karnataka said, it is amazing to see the amount of money Karnataka is spending on Lawyers, for just 7 TMC water.
What is interesting to note, though not surprising perhaps, is the absence of official information on what actually transpired at the Tribunal, what the Tribunal Order actually states and why. Even the media is quoted to be saying that MWDT rejected Karnataka’s appeal for diversion of 7.56 TMC water through the Kalsa-Bhanduri Project into Malaprabha Basin[iii]…which is away from the facts. The order is not about 7.56 TMC, neither is it about Kalasa-Bhanduri project.
Let us try to understand the interim decision of the Tribunal, a three-member bench headed by Justice J.M. Panchal. But before that, let us understand the Tribunal itself, which was constituted in 2010 after Goa approached the Supreme Court[iv] in 2006 even as Karnataka had started work on Mahadayi diversion project, without either consulting Goa or securing requisite clearances from Environment Ministry or Planning Commission. (A timeline of the Tribunal formation and its decisions is provided in Annex 1 at the end.)
Mahadayi, known as Mandovi or Mhadei in Goa is a spectacular, biodiversity rich river[v], which arises from ecologically sensitive regions of Western Ghats in Karnataka and flows into Goa. Of its 76 kms length, 52 lie in Goa. 18% basin area lies in Karnataka, just 4% in Maharashtra and maximum 78% basin area lies in Goa. See some of her avatars in a film made with the help of Dr. Rajendra Kerkar from Mhadei Bacaho Andolan. https://vimeo.com/82445659
Map based on Google Earth by Bhima Singh Rawat, SANDRP. Note that Mahadayi anf Mandovi is the same river
According to documents submitted by Karnataka to the Hon. Tribunal in 2013 (this is based on Environment Impact Assessment of the Proposed Mahadayi Hydroelectric Project, done in 1997 by NEERI), Karnataka’s dual plan of Hydropower generation and river diversion for irrigation and drinking water includes multiple dams like Kotni reservoir, Irti, Bailnadi and a tailrace. Total submergence of these 4 dams will be 2,614 hectares, which includes 1938 hectares of forest land. In addition, there are two diversion dams planned, Kalasa and Haltar, with a submergence area of 301.5 hectares. So the total submergence of the project will be 2915.5 hectares, most of which is not only Forest Land, but also part of Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mhadei/Mahadayi/Mandovi in her upper reaches in Goa Photo: Parineeta Dandekar, July 2016
This region is ecologically one of the most valuable regions in India. And it is extremely shocking to see that Karnataka started construction and digging canals at Kalasa Bhanduri, just 1.2 kms from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary without securing any Environment, Forest or Wildlife Clearances. In fact, the MoEF should suo motto look into this matter and take strict action against Karnataka for violating a slew of environment related laws, but it has not done so for so many years. The reason is a mystery.
It will not be out of place to mention here that Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited has violated Environmental and Forest Laws in several of its projects, including Upper Bhadra Project[vi], Sonthi Lift Irrigation[vii] Scheme, and the latest Yettinahole Diversion Project.[viii] Maharashtra, which is also a party of the MWDT has also violated Environmental and Forest laws by not securing clearances before starting with the Virdi Dam project on a Mahadayi’s tributary.[ix]
This is not to say that Goa is exemplary in its river or environment management. Unabated, unregulated mining in Goa, with political support has ravaged its water systems, dams and rivers. [x]
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