Digital Goa, Nov 18 – In a renewed push for Kalasa and Bandura Nala projects, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has written to PM Narendra Modi seeking immediate intervention to secure pending environmental and wildlife clearances for the contentious projects. He claimed the projects—aimed at meeting Hubli-Dharwad’s drinking water needs—were cleared by the Central Water Commission and Ministry of Jal Shakti in December 2022, but continue to await approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Despite “no legal impediment”, the delay has prevented Karnataka from utilising its allocated share of Mhadei water, he claimed. He urged the Centre to issue the required approvals and also pressed for Karnataka’s “rightful share” under the Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) schemes, citing “equity and equitable apportionment”.
