Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project

WHY IN NEWS?

The cost of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project on the Mahadayi basin has risen from about ?94 crores (2000) to ?1,677.30 crores (2020) due to the ongoing inter-State river water dispute.

MAHADAYI RIVER

• Mahadayi or Mhadei, the west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Ghats), Belagavi district 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.

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.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Mahadayi River:
1.Mahadayi, the west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Ghats), Karnataka.
2.The Kalasa-Banduri Nala project is on the Mahadayi River.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a)1 only
b)2 only
c)Both 1 and 2

d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question