Karnataka asks environmental clearances for Kalasa-Banduri, Mekedatu projects
Context:
Recently, the Karnataka Government appealed to the Centre, to expedite environmental clearance for the Kalasa-Banduri and Mekedatu projects, which are crucial for fulfilling the drinking water needs of north Karnataka and Bengaluru region.
Relevance:
GS-02 GS-03 (Polity, Conservation, Environment)
Kalasa-Banduri Project:
- The project which was proposed in early 1980’s, plans to construct a dam and a canal system to divert Mahadayi River (located in Goa), to the Malaprabha River (a tributary of Krishna river) basin in Karnataka.
- The project aims to fulfill drinking water needs of the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka.
Mekedatu Project:
- It is a multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project proposed by Karnataka, which involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
- Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the confluence of the rivers Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.
- The expected capacity of the dam is 66,000 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water.
- The main agenda of the project is to fulfil drinking water needs in Bengaluru and its adjoining areas facing water scarcity.
- The project also contributes to renewable energy production and reducing carbon emissions.
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