Villages in Khanapur taluk are facing severe water scarcity as the Malaprabha river is reportedly running dry, a crisis highlighted at a two-day stakeholder meeting held in Dharwad on October 24 and 25. The gathering, attended by farmers, researchers, environmentalists, legal experts, and citizens from Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra, focused on water management and river conservation for communities dependent on the Mahadayi and Malaprabha rivers.
Farmers from Khanapur, including those from Tivoli, Teerthkunde, and Uchawade, reported that water shortages typically begin after January, making it difficult to sustain crops. The situation has now deteriorated to the point where no water is flowing in the Malaprabha River within the taluk. Representatives from other parts of the basin, such as Nargund, Badami, Gadag, Ramdurg, and Hubballi-Dharwad, noted that tail-end areas of the Naviluteertha dam command region are receiving inadequate agricultural supplies because water is being diverted for drinking, village tanks, and industrial use.
Concerns were also raised regarding flooding downstream of the Renukasagar reservoir in the Badami region, which participants attributed partly to siltation. They called for comprehensive river basin development, crop protection, and flood-control measures before any additional water is brought from the Mahadayi into the Malaprabha basin. Additionally, Khanapur farmers warned of crop losses caused by wild animals, including elephants, bison, wild boar, and monkeys, and expressed fear that the proposed Bhandura Nala diversion project could lead to the loss of productive farmland.
The meeting addressed the equitable allocation of water across the basin, questioning the consumption by sugar factories and other industries. Experts advocated for greater water discipline, efficient farming practices, and measures to rejuvenate water resources. The importance of protecting the Bhimgad and Mhadei wildlife sanctuaries and the Western Ghats was emphasized as vital for long-term water security. Participants from Goa also outlined their concerns regarding the protection of the Mahadayi, known as the Mandovi in their state, and the livelihoods and ecosystems it sustains.
Concluding with a set of recommendations, the stakeholders called for an urgent solution to farmer water stress, a transparent and legally compliant resolution of the Mahadayi issue, and stricter scrutiny of water-intensive industries. They urged the governments of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra to publish white papers detailing current water resource use and forest conservation policies. The gathering stressed that farmer interests and river ecosystem conservation must be addressed through dialogue and transparent management rather than political interference. The meeting was convened by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), South Asians People’s Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC), Eco Watch, and other organizations.
