KERI: After a five-month lull Karnataka has resumed work on diversion of Kalsa nullah into Malaprabha basin in defiance of Supreme Court order not to recommence the project while it is also pending before Mhadei water dispute tribunal (MWDT).
The apex court had disposed off the matter in August 2017 allowing Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), an NGO, which had challenged Karnataka's project of damming and diversion of Kalsa nullah, the liberty of approaching the court if the work was resumed.
The work in Kankumbi, not far from Goa's border, poses a serious threat to the Mhadei river, as Kalsa nullah is one of the major tributaries of the river flowing into Goa.
After the work resumed recently, excavators, trucks and hordes of workers have been engaged in large-scale work of excavation for construction of the pending work of canal.
Nirmala Sawant, MBA president, Goa, when contacted by STOI said, "Karnataka has resumed the work of Kalsa project at Kankumbi in spite of Supreme court order."
Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd had started the work in 2006 with massive excavation to construct a canal and channels to divert the Kalsa tributary of Mhadei river.
The work that had stopped recently resumed.
"Our counsel was successful drawing attention of the apex court to Karnataka's violations without obtaining requisite clearances from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Now, we will bring to its notice the ongoing work of Karnataka in Kankumbi with photographic evidence," Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) president Nirmala Sawant said.
Kiran Gaude, a social activist from Kankumbi visited the site on Saturday."Karnataka has started the work at great speed in total disregard of the Supreme Court order and least concern for the interest of the locals, and repeated directives given by the tribunal. Once again, our villagers have been victimized by air and noise pollution beside ground water resources has been degraded," he said.
The forest department had taken cognizance of the clearing of forest areas. On November 8, 2008, a first information report (FIR) was lodged by forester of Kankumbi under Karnataka Forest Act of 1963, Section (24) regarding felling of trees in the survey no. 60 and dumping of soil in the forests area. However, in spite of the complaint, Karnataka continued with the work. The villagers complained of massive ecological and other damage due to the excavation, disruption of their normal life due to movement of trucks and disturbance to the water table
A centuries-old sacred tank of and Sabha mandap of the Mauli temple had collapse due to haphazard work being carried out in the area, they alleged.
A vast area in and around Mauli temple had been dug up and filled up with mud later to bring it a single level.
In 2015, Karnataka was directed to plug both the vents of the Kalsa canal, which was diverting water from Kalsa nallah water into the Malprabha river.
Presently, the hearing in the matter of Mhadei and its tributaries water disputes is in progress before the tribunal in New Delhi. A few Goa government officials, especially zoo manager of Bondla Zoo and wildlife sanctuary, Paresh Porob, Shamila Monteiro, former director of fisheries and Subrai Nadkarni, chief engineer of water resources department (WRD), were crossed examined by the counsels of Karnataka and Maharashtra. They had deposed before the tribunal regarding the adverse impact of the diversion of Kalsa tributary with regard to wildlife, fish wealth and water resources.
Presently, the counsels of Goa are cross examining the witnesses of Karnataka.
The apex court had disposed off the matter in August 2017 allowing Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), an NGO, which had challenged Karnataka's project of damming and diversion of Kalsa nullah, the liberty of approaching the court if the work was resumed.
The work in Kankumbi, not far from Goa's border, poses a serious threat to the Mhadei river, as Kalsa nullah is one of the major tributaries of the river flowing into Goa.
After the work resumed recently, excavators, trucks and hordes of workers have been engaged in large-scale work of excavation for construction of the pending work of canal.
Nirmala Sawant, MBA president, Goa, when contacted by STOI said, "Karnataka has resumed the work of Kalsa project at Kankumbi in spite of Supreme court order."
Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd had started the work in 2006 with massive excavation to construct a canal and channels to divert the Kalsa tributary of Mhadei river.
The work that had stopped recently resumed.
"Our counsel was successful drawing attention of the apex court to Karnataka's violations without obtaining requisite clearances from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Now, we will bring to its notice the ongoing work of Karnataka in Kankumbi with photographic evidence," Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) president Nirmala Sawant said.
Kiran Gaude, a social activist from Kankumbi visited the site on Saturday."Karnataka has started the work at great speed in total disregard of the Supreme Court order and least concern for the interest of the locals, and repeated directives given by the tribunal. Once again, our villagers have been victimized by air and noise pollution beside ground water resources has been degraded," he said.
The forest department had taken cognizance of the clearing of forest areas. On November 8, 2008, a first information report (FIR) was lodged by forester of Kankumbi under Karnataka Forest Act of 1963, Section (24) regarding felling of trees in the survey no. 60 and dumping of soil in the forests area. However, in spite of the complaint, Karnataka continued with the work. The villagers complained of massive ecological and other damage due to the excavation, disruption of their normal life due to movement of trucks and disturbance to the water table
A centuries-old sacred tank of and Sabha mandap of the Mauli temple had collapse due to haphazard work being carried out in the area, they alleged.
A vast area in and around Mauli temple had been dug up and filled up with mud later to bring it a single level.
In 2015, Karnataka was directed to plug both the vents of the Kalsa canal, which was diverting water from Kalsa nallah water into the Malprabha river.
Presently, the hearing in the matter of Mhadei and its tributaries water disputes is in progress before the tribunal in New Delhi. A few Goa government officials, especially zoo manager of Bondla Zoo and wildlife sanctuary, Paresh Porob, Shamila Monteiro, former director of fisheries and Subrai Nadkarni, chief engineer of water resources department (WRD), were crossed examined by the counsels of Karnataka and Maharashtra. They had deposed before the tribunal regarding the adverse impact of the diversion of Kalsa tributary with regard to wildlife, fish wealth and water resources.
Presently, the counsels of Goa are cross examining the witnesses of Karnataka.
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