A Goa government-appointed investigation team visited the stalled Kalasa-Banduri irrigation project in Kanakumbi, Belgaum district on Sunday. The officials were there to examine the ongoing work in the Mahadayi river basin, amidst resistance from pro-Kannada groups.
The eight-member Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) team conducted inspections at approximately twelve project sites under tight police security. More than a hundred police officers were stationed in Kanakumbi village to safeguard the team, according to an official.
Belgaum SP Bhimashankar Guled stated, “In response to opposition from Kannada groups, we ensured security for the visiting team.” He noted that despite concerns, no demonstrations occurred during the team’s visit. Guled emphasized the provision of protection to the Goa team due to perceived risks from Kannada organizations.
Meanwhile, Kannada organizations expressed apprehensions that the team from Goa might issue a prejudiced report. They urged the central government to disregard the team’s conclusions and threatened statewide demonstrations if the team’s visit was not halted.
“We deeply regret that our government did not prevent the unauthorized inspection of the stalled Kalasa-Banduri project,” stated Ashok Chandaragi, convenor of the steering committee of Kannada organizations. He urged the Karnataka government to form its own investigative committee to counter what he perceives as Goa’s violation of the Mahadayi water sharing tribunal’s decisions.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents the Hubballi-Dharwad constituency, downplayed the significance of the visit, dismissing the report’s credibility. He described the Goa CM’s assignment of the team as a distraction for the people of Goa, emphasizing that the committee lacks constitutional authority.
Jagadish Shetter, BJP MP from Belgaum and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, characterized the visit as unofficial and irrelevant to the tribunal’s proceedings. He expressed that the team’s visit and subsequent report should not be taken seriously.
The team plans to visit Mahadayi river project sites in Maharashtra and Goa later this week. Their objective is to submit their findings to the central government rather than to the Mahadayi water sharing dispute tribunal.
Ashok Chandaragi informed HT that the tribunal, led by Justice JM Panchal, allocated 3.90 TMC ft of water to Karnataka from the Mahadayi river in April 2018. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2020, despite opposition from the Goa government.
According to a revised report by the Central Water Resources Commission in 2022, Karnataka was permitted to utilize 1.78 TMC ft from the Kalasa unit of the river for drinking water purposes. This exemption included certain forest and environmental regulations to facilitate project development.
Goa Chief Minister Pramodh Savant recently stated on X that the findings of the team’s report would have a considerable influence on the Mahadayi river water-sharing dispute involving Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
