Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Urges PM Modi for Quick Approval of Kalasa-Banduri Water Project

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 19: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for urgent approval of the Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project, essential for North Karnataka’s water needs. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah underlined the importance of the project and the need for interstate cooperation.

Siddaramaiah, in his post on X on Thursday, wrote, “I have written to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, urging swift approval of the Kalasa-Banduri project, which is essential for the welfare of the people of North Karnataka. Interstate cooperation is crucial to addressing the region’s water needs. Let’s prioritize the needs of our people.”

The letter details the long-standing delays in securing wildlife clearance for the project from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Siddaramaiah noted that the Kalasa-Banduri Nala Diversion Project, important for addressing drinking water needs in North Karnataka, has been pending clearance for an unusually long time.

The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s award was issued on August 14, 2018, and published on February 27, 2020, allocating 13.42 TMC of water to Karnataka, with 3.9 TMC designated for drinking purposes. The Chief Minister also pointed out that the proposal, submitted to the Central Water Commission on June 16, 2022, has met all necessary prerequisites but has not yet received clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by the Prime Minister.

He then condemned a restraining order by the Goa Chief Wildlife Warden, which has led to a legal challenge currently before the Supreme Court. Siddaramaiah also compared this delay with the approval of the Goa-Tamnar Transmission Line, which the NBWL has recently recommended despite similar environmental concerns.

“The Standing Committee of the NBWL… has deferred the proposal stating that the matter is sub-judice,” Siddaramaiah said while questioning the inconsistency in handling projects. The Chief Minister concluded his letter while expressing frustration with the delays, and added that Karnataka might have to reconsider its support for the Goa-Tamnar power line due to ongoing objections and legal disputes affecting the Kalasa-Banduri project.