Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project

Why in news?

• Despite opposition from Goa, Karnataka Water Resources minister Govind Karjol announced that the state will proceed with the Kalasa-Banduri project on the River Mahadayi.

About Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project:

• It is undertaken by the Government of Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the three districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag.
• It involves building across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the Mahadayi river to divert water to the Malaprabha river (a tributary of Krishna river).
• Malaprabha river supplies the drinking water to Dharwad, Belgaum, and Gadag districts.
• Kalasa-Banduri project was planned in 1989; Goa raised an objection to it.
• The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up in 2010. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are parties to the tribunal.

About Mahadayi River:

• Mahadayi or Mhadei, the west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Ghats) of Karnataka.
• It is essentially a rain-fed river also called Mandovi in Goa.
• It is joined by a number of streams to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers (the other one is Zuari river) that flows through Goa.
• The river travels 35 km in Karnataka; 82 km in Goa before joining the Arabian Sea

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following states in India:

1. Goa

2. Karnataka

3. Maharashtra

4. Tamil Nadu

Mahadayi river flows flow through how many of the states given above?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All three

Answer