Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil expressed shock over Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’ statement in the Goa Legislative Assembly that Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupendra Yadav informed him that the Central government will not approve the Mahadayi project.
Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Patil condemned the “stepmotherly” treatment meted out to Karnataka by the Centre” and said the latter “is unnecessarily obstructing” the implementation of legally and constitutionally protected projects of the State. The denial of permission to implement the project “is an injustice to the federal system”, Mr. Patil said.
Interest of farmers
Keeping in mind the interests of the people and farmers of North Karnataka, the Minister urged the Central government to clear the project immediately. The project aimed at catering to the drinking water needs of Hubballi-Dharwad and other towns in North Karnataka.
Goa has been opposing the Union government’s decision to accord approval to Karnataka’s Kalasa-Banduri projects in the Mahadayi basin. In 2018, the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal adjudicating the inter-State water dispute distributed Mahadayi river waters with 13.42 tmcft to Karnataka, 1.33 tmcft to Maharashtra, and 24 tmcft to Goa. This was notified by the Union government in 2020.
On several occasions, Karnataka has urged the Centre to provide necessary clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), to expedite the execution of the long-pending project, crucial for fulfilling the drinking water needs of North Karnataka. The NBWL held its 77th, 79th, and 80th meetings but has not taken any decision, Mr. Patil said.
Published – July 23, 2025 07:18 pm IST
