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9th July 2025 (13 Topics)

Karnataka Inter-State and Irrigation Water Projects

Context:

Karnataka has sought the Centre’s approval for key water projects—Yettinahole, Kalasa-Banduri, and Upper Bhadra—and urged notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II award amid legal, environmental, and funding hurdles.

Yettinahole Project:

  • Located in the Western Ghats region of Hassan district, it is a drinking water project aimed at diverting water from west-flowing streams to the drought-prone eastern districts of Karnataka.
  • Issue: Facing objections from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) regarding diversion of 423 acres of forestland. The state has proposed compensatory afforestation through revenue land acquisition.

Kalasa-BanduriNala Project:

  • Objective: To divert water from the Mahadayi River (also called Mandovi in Goa) to meet drinking water needs in Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag
  • Inter-State Dispute:Goa has raised objections, citing ecological and water-sharing concerns. The case has been politically and legally contentious for years.

Upper Bhadra Project:

  • Type:Major lift irrigation project to irrigate drought-prone regions.
  • Districts Covered:Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Davanagere.
  • Project Cost: ?21,473 crore;
  • Expected Benefit: Irrigation of 25 lakh hectares.
  • Issue: Although ?5,300 crore was allocated, the Centre has not released funds yet.

Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II Award:

  • Karnataka is seeking notification (gazette publication) of the award which decides water sharing among Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • Non-notification hinders the implementation of state-level irrigation policies.

Constitutional and Statutory Framework:

  • Inter-state river water disputes are governed by Article 262 and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
  • Environmental approvals are under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Verifying, please be patient.

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