National Wildlife Board Rejects Kalasa Nala Diversion Project Approval

Belagavi :The National Wildlife Board has denied approval for the Kalasa Nala Diversion Project, citing Goa’s ongoing challenge to the Mahadayi project in the Supreme Court. Additionally, the board has granted conditional approval for the Goa-Tamnar 400 KV power line, which will utilise 435 acres of forest in Karnataka.

The board’s refusal stems from Goa’s opposition and the unresolved legal proceedings in the Supreme Court. The Karnataka state government had sought permission to use forest land for the Kalasa Nala project, but the Wildlife Board, in a previous meeting, did not agree to this proposal.

The Kalasa Nala Diversion Project intends to divert 1.78 TMC ft of water, necessitating the use of forest land in seven villages of Khanapura taluk in Belgaum district. The project involves the construction of a jackwell, pump house, electrical substation, and pipeline, covering 10.68 hectares of forest within the Kali and Sahyadri Tiger Reserves.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority had dispatched a team of experts for a fact-finding study; however, no response has been received as of yet. The Wildlife Board has decided to defer the decision until the next meeting, citing the pending Supreme Court case.