Central ministry removes Banduri Nala project of Mahadayi basin from pending list

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has removed the Banduri Nala diversion project under the Mahadayi river basin from the list of pending clearances on the forest ministry's website. According to a report by The Hindu, the project has been removed from the online queue of pending proposals on the Central Government's PARIVESH portal.

The primary reason behind this decision is believed to be the delayed process by the Karnataka government. The central team had raised several questions regarding the project, but a timely and appropriate response was not provided by the Karnataka government. Ministry officials conducted two field visits and also issued a notice to the state's Congress government in July 2026, but a proper reply was not received within the deadline.

For this project, Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited (KNNL) had sought permission to divert 71 acres of forest land for laying pipelines, pumphouses, and powerlines in the villages of Narase, Manturga, and Bacholi of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district and surrounding areas. However, when farmers received notice regarding this in April 2025, they held a meeting in Khanapur and strongly opposed this land acquisition proposal.

Central ministry officials have also indicated that a final decision on this proposal can only be taken once the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on this inter-state river water dispute. This project is the first phase of the Mahadayi basin diversion works, aimed at providing drinking water to Hubli-Dharwad and Gadag cities as well as some villages. On the other hand, the proposal for the Kalasa Nala diversion project has not yet been sent to the Central Government. According to Karnataka forest officials, the Banduri Nala project would submerge a smaller area of forest land compared to the Kalasa Nala project.

The Goa government has reacted to this sequence of events. Goa's Water Resources Development Minister Subhash Shirodkar told reporters in Panaji that the Central Government has withdrawn the forest clearance granted to Karnataka's proposal. Shirodkar welcomed the move and stated that this decision is in Goa's favour, which will further strengthen Goa's case in the Supreme Court against the river basin diversion projects. He argued that Goa opposes these projects as they could pose a risk to the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary and generally to the ecology of the Western Ghats.